IPL CRICKE 2010 Chennai-Super Kings Tie-Up

IPL CRICKET 2010

THE KINGS COUNTRY!

English Champions Durham Look For Tie-Up With Chennai Super Kings

Chennai: Chennai super Kings (CSK) is fast catching the imagination of the global market.

       The last in line to come with an offer of a "tie-up for future development" are the current English Country champions Durham CCC.

      The Durham chairman Clive Leach, who is in the city to be part of a progamme of their sponsors 5G, will meet the CSK bosses over the weekend to discuss the possibilities of tei-up.

      "Our main aim is brand development and forming a stronger cricket team and for both the purposes, CSK can be an excellent partner for us, "Leach told the TOL 5G, who are one of the sponsors of CSK too, are playing the mediators in the process of dialogue.

          Durham, from being a no-hoper in the 1990s, are one of the top sides in the Country circuit these days and their home ground Chester-le-Street will host an Ashes Test for the first time in2013. "We won the Country championship last year and have four titles in the last three years. Our academy is rated as one of the best in England and if we get a chance to work with CSK, we'll look at players' exchange so that young cricketers from both the places get maximum exposure, "Leach said.

      The CSK academy is still being planned with Matthew Hayden as the chief coach and the Durham boss know about the development. "Our academy , too, has produced some of the best players in England like Paul Collingwood and Steven Harmison. It will be a fantastic opportunity for the young players of out academy to come to Chennai and learn the tricks of the trade against quality spinners, "Leach said, adding that the Indian players can also travel to England and practise in their academy.

       Explaining the choice of CSK for the probable venture, the chairman said that there's a geographical similarity between Durham and Chennai. 

      "While Durhan is situated in the north-eastern part of England which is pretty much away from the centre of activities, Chennai is also a little away from the hub. There's a quiet sense of purpose to whcih both Durham and Chennai work, away from the hype and hoopla, " Leach said.

           If that is one of the reasons for choosing to close in on CSK as the business partners, the other reason is the global market of CSK., "there are many Indian and Sri Lankan Tamils in England and around the world. Among them, CSK is a very popular brand and it would be good to associate ourselves with them. "

      The CSK bosses also seemed to be open to the idea of a probable tie-up. "We will discuss it with them before taking a decision. At the present moment, it sounds an interesting proposition, "a CSK official said.