Deccan Chronicle floats Deccan Chargers Sporting Ventures

Ashish Khurana - Televisionpoint.com | Hyderabad
Deccan Chargers Sporting Ventures Ltd (DCSVL), a subsidiary of Deccan Chronicle Holdings Ltd (DCHL), is investing fresh capital in Deccan Chargers, the Hyderabad Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket team. The additional capital will be infused into DCSVL by restructuring its equity.

Despite an all around meltdown in the economy, the DCSVL proposal to restructure its equity has evinced an overwhelming response. DCHL has set up DCSVL as a 100 per cent owned subsidiary to lend greater focus and attention to sporting activities.

BCCI and IPL have already approved the transfer of the franchise rights for the Hyderabad team to the new company. The team, which is getting ready for the second edition of IPL to be held later this year, has no plans to release any of its senior players in auction to any other team.

As a run up to the IPL 2009 edition, the team management is aggressively working on a multi-pronged strategy. To start with, philanthropist, eminent educationist, an avid cricket watcher and turnaround specialist V Shankar has been appointed as the chairman of DCSVL and Tim Wright as CEO of Deccan Chargers. Wright brings with him a vast experience of marketing and managing various international teams.

The team also aims to approach the new season with a fresh new branding. The London-based Navy Blue has reworked the team's corporate logo, which is part of the process of globalising the operations. The dull beige and black uniforms have been changed to lively obsidian and silver.

In addition, the erstwhile coach, Robin Singh, has been replaced by Darren Lehmann. In the new role, Lehmann will also be responsible for developing a state-of-the-art academy to nourish young talent. To nurture and develop them as future stars of Indian cricket, several school kids in Hyderabad have been adopted. The Chargers also supports the Hyderabad Ranji Team, the women's team and the junior team.

The team has started work on short listing international talent for the forthcoming IPL. The Deccan Chargers visited the UK, Australia, Sri Lanka and South Africa and have short listed a few promising international players who will be contracted during the next auction of IPL.

The new coaching staff include Mike Young, a fielding specialist from Australia, as assistant coach; Steve Smith as trainer from Australia; and noted Australian physiotherapist Sean Slattery. Ricky Paul Aitken from Hong Kong has been retained as the consultant grounds manager.

The contracts of team manager Vijay Mohan Raj and head of cricket Shishir Hattangadi have been terminated. V V S Laxman has ceded the captaincy of the team in favour of Adam Gilchrist who led the team during the second half of the first edition of IPL following an injury suffered by Laxman.

Rohit Sharma is being appointed vice-captain of the team. Andrew Symonds, rested for sometime from international matches, has a new-found vigour as he makes himself available for most part of the second edition.

Last year, he played only four matches. A few non-performing international players are being offered separation by mutual consent. It has also started a merchandising programme with Essential and Jason Warne's Design Company in Australia.