With just three days to go for the start of IPL-3, the buzz around the T20 event seems to be missing, largely due to TV channels keeping away from the event due to IPL's stringent media guidelines. There have been no promos, no IPL-based programming and no coverage of even the practice games being played across the country.For example, a practice game involving Delhi Daredevils here at the Kotla on Monday evening was largely ignored by the electronic media.
Obviously, this state of affair has made IPL team owners a bit jittery and they want a solution to the impasse. Sources said that some franchisees who have signed up deals with news channels had to postpone promotional events. Teams who were planning to launch merchandise and announce new sponsors and commercial partners are not able to organise any event.
While the National Broadcasting Association (NBA) is confident the tussle will be solved before the mega event begins on Friday, the BCCI is keeping itself at a safe distance. "This a matter between the IPL broadcaster and the NBA.
The IPL's unveiling of its two new franchises on Sunday ended in an anti-climax with the league pushing back the entire process by two weeks, in the process scrapping the existing tender procedure after bidders objected to stiff financial clauses. The new tenders, which will be floated on March 9 and opened on March 21, will drop a clause requiring the bidder to have a net worth of $1 billion.
Kings XI Punjab on Friday appointed Kumar Sangakkara as its new captain for DLF IPL 2010. The Sri Lankan player replaces Yuvraj Singh who had led the team for the last two seasons with great efficiency and passion. 
The threat of overseas players withdrawing from the 2010 season of the IPL has reduced after the league's organisers assured players' unions that the security plan will be implemented at each venue. Tim May, the head of FICA, said the development would "certainly improve confidence in security".
