Dhoni removed as Pune captain, Smith to take over

Kolkata, Feb. 19: Indian cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni was on Sunday removed as captain of IPL franchise Rising Pune Supergiants and replaced by Australian Steve Smith, ending his innings as skipper in both international and franchise cricket. Dhoni, who had stepped down as India’s limited-overs captain to snap his international run as skipper earlier this year, will, however, continue to be a part of the Pune franchise as a player. “Dhoni has not stepped down. We have appointed Steve Smith as the skipper for the upcoming season. Frankly speaking, we did not have a good last season and we wanted someone young to lead the side and revamp it ahead of the upcoming season 10,” Rising Pune Supergiants owner Sanjiv Goenka told PTI. This is the first time that the 35-year-old, who had stepped down from Team India captaincy on his own terms in all formats, has been removed from the top position. The decision comes a day before the players’ auctions scheduled to be held in Bengaluru. “I have the highest regard for MS Dhoni as a leader and a person. Dhoni continues to be an integral member of our team. He is supportive of the decision keeping the franchise’s best interests in mind,” Goenka added. The most expensive player of the tournament that began in 2008, Dhoni also has been among the most successful. Part of the now suspended Chennai Super Kings franchise from 2008 to 2015, Dhoni led the team to back-to-back titles in 2010 and 2011. Besides, he also led Chennai to the Champions League T20 trophies in 2010 and 2014. He was the first one picked in the only draft held in the IPL, in December 2015, after Chennai and Rajasthan Royals were suspended for two years and two new franchises -- Pune and Gujarat Lions -- were given the option of choosing up to five players each. He has been with the Pune franchise ever since. The man replacing him in the leadership role, the 27-year-old Smith, is currently the captain of the Australian cricket team in all three formats. He was appointed Test captain in 2014/15 and he took over the ODI captaincy reigns after the 2015 World Cup. Pune, who were one of the two teams along with Gujarat Lions to be inducted last season in place of the the suspended Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals, were plagued with injury issues. They just about avoided the wooden spoon to finish ahead of Kings XI Punjab at the seventh place in the eight-team standings of IPL 2015. Although the team started well with a win over Mumbai Indians in the first match, it failed to maintain the consistency with the likes of Kevin Pietersen, Faf du Plessis and Steven Smith all withdrawing due to injuries. Australian seamer Starc opts out of IPL 2017  Bengaluru, Feb. 19: Australian left-arm seamer Mitchell Starc has pulled out of the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in order to “undertake a period of rehabilitation and strength” leading into the ICC Champions Trophy to be held in June, it was announced on Sunday. With this decision, the 27-year-old will foresake Rs 5 crore that he was supposed to bag for turning out for IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) during the coming season. “The Royal Challengers Bangalore and fast bowler Mitchell Starc have mutually decided to discontinue their association ahead of the upcoming season of VIVO Indian Premier League 2017 in accordance with Regulation 41 of the IPL Player Regulations,” a statement said. Starc, one of the world’s premier fast bowlers, had also missed the 2016 IPL edition due to injury. “At this point in time after a long summer and with a big tour of India still ahead, I think it is in my best interests, both physically and mentally, for me to have a break, spend time with my family and take the opportunity to work on getting back to full fitness,” Starc said in a statement released by Cricket Australia (CA). “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with Bangalore and I certainly hope to be back playing for them in the future and wish them all the best in this year’s IPL,” added Starc. Now, in the absence of Starc, the city-based franchise of the richest Twenty20 cricket league will go into Monday’s IPL Players auction with an additional purse of Rs 5 Crore and an additional slot for an overseas player. RCB have a purse of a total of Rs 17.825 crore to buy players. The IPL starts on April 5. IANS