Preity at IPL Award

More Photo

Time for hard decisions

Upset over Kings XI Punjab’s dismal performance in the third edition of the Indian Premier League, Bollywood star and co-owner of the team Preity Zinta on Monday called for “hard decisions” against the players not doing well.

“As in the T20 matches it is necessary to rotate the strike, time has come to take some hard decisions,” Zinta told Hindustan Times in an exclusive interview.

Zinta, who spent three days in the hill town, hinted at major introspection to give a fresh look to the team that finished at the bottom of the standings. “We need to look afresh at the team’s performance,” she said.

When asked about allegations that some team members underperformed, she did not comment on it but said, “Team’s performance has not been up to the mark.”

“We will come back with a bang,” said Zinta, whose combined efforts with Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association president Anurag Thakur, fetched two matches for the hill town.

“I took personal interest to get IPL matches to Dharamsala,” said Zinta, adding that she is keen to take cricket to her hometown Shimla in future.

“It is my dream to organise IPL matches in Shimla. Unfortunately, we don’t have a playing ground there,” she said. Zinta has requested the HPCA to “construct a world-class stadium in Shimla” as well.

Zinta said that the trip to Dharamsala was an emotional experience for her.

“HPCA has constructed a very good stadium here. And the response in Dharamsala has been overwhelming, “ Zinta said after their final league match.

Preity Zinta at KXIP last Match

Preity on KXIP 13th Match

Breaking news: Preity signed ‘Hello’ with Akshay Kumar and Udita Goswami

Udita Goswami confessed that she has an upcoming movie with Preity Zinta and Akshay Kumar.

Apart from Chase what are your other forthcoming projects?

I am doing a movie named The Man with Sunny Deol and Shilpa Shetty. I will also be doing Hello India with Akshay Kumar and Preity Zinta. I will be playing very prominent roles in both the movies.

Preity at KXIP 13th match, April 9: Mumbai Indians vs Kings XI Punjab

April 9: Mumbai Indians vs Kings XI Punjab

More Picture

Preity Zinta at KXIP 8th Match

April 2: Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kings XI Punjab

More Pic

'PREITY TREATS ME LIKE A KID!’

CT catches Piyush Chawla, the “cutesy-pie” leg-spinner of Team Mohali, in a wistful mood…

SHE TREATS ME LIKE A KID!’

“Preity’s such a beautiful girl and a wonderful human being. We all are saddened by the fact that we haven’t done well! I wish I could bring smile back to her face,” says Piyush Chawla. Try pulling his leg that it is quite a loaded statement and Piyush laments: “Preity treats me like a kid! Isliye main uske saamne seedha saadha bachha banke rehta hoon!”

Calcutta Times

Preity is single and happy

Preity Zinta's cricket team is back to its winning ways, and she says that she hasn't been driving them crazy with criticism“I feel they work hard, so I make sure that they are having fun too," says bubbly Preity, who can always be seen cheering the team on. Winning and losing is fine, but I think every cricketer on the team is giving his all. So we party too, on the off days,” she quips.

Last year, Preity took a break from acting and started concentrating on her IPL team. She was initially doing this along with her then boyfriend Ness Wadia, but after the couple broke up, Preity has still been at it. She says she has no problem doing it alone. “Why can’t people see a woman alone? If she is working hard, earning by herself, why is it necessary for her to mingle? She can surely make her career by herself. But in India, no matter how much educated you are, it is said that for a woman, it’s important to get married after a particular age. I don’t understand that. Why?,” asks pretty Preity.

Preity feels that it’s the society which needs to grow up. “It’s really odd how one doesn’t seem to like seeing a woman being single and being alright with it. No matter how educated we get, no matter how much we, as women, have achieved in life, there is a section of society telling you - ‘You are a woman, you can't do this. There are some limitations’,” says Preity.

She is now happy with her career, and has come out of all the trauma. “It’s all because of IPL. I say that because IPL has kept me busy, and when you are busy, you don’t get time to think about something else. It gives you space to think about your work,” adds Preity.

vote Preity on The 2010 TIME 100 Poll

Preity Zinta is listed on this year’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world! What an achievement! She is the only Bollywood star listed! Make sure she makes the list and let the world now about her fabulous work as an actor, businesswoman and most important for the person she is!

@realpreityzinta currently ranked #53 with 2856 voted. Her average ranking is #88. 2856 is not enough!

VOTE MORE! http://bit.ly/9SpEhe

KXIP surmount 200-plus score, win lost pride

Kolkata: One man's misfortune is the other's opportunity. Mahela Jayawardene made the most of this dictum on Sunday to lead Kings XI Punjab to just their second win in IPL 2010.

Jayawardene was not supposed to play the Sunday fixture. He eventually played only because Shaun Marsh injured himself minutes before the game against Kolkata Knight Riders.

Jayawardene notched up his first IPL hundred, the second for Kings XI Punjab, and the 12th of the tournament to star in a famous win.

This hundred by Jayawardene overshadowed a gigantic Chris Gayle (88: 42b, 6x4, 8x6) effort which had the set the stage for a massive chase.

Jayawardene's effort ensured that Kings XI Punjab chased down Kolkata Knight Riders' stiff target of 200 for three in the 19th over.

Jayawardene and his second-wicket partnership with skipper Kumar Sangakkara of 98 runs set the tone for an evening of smiles for the visitors at the Eden Gardens.

Earlier, Sourav Ganguly’s decision to bat first was vindicated after the Knight Riders were off to a rollicking start.

Ganguly was swiftly snapped up Ravi Bopara after making 36. But his skipper’s absence only seemed to increase Gayle’s resolve. And the momentum swung dramatically from the 13th over onwards when Gayle came into his own.

Ravi Bopara didn’t know what hit him as the powerful West Indian took a fancy to the Englishman’s medium pace. Four sixes from Gayle unsettled Bopara who conceded a further five wides to end up giving away 33 runs in one over – a dubious IPL record.

The Kings simply caved from then on, giving Gayle and Manoj Tiwary complete control. Gayle’s fury finally ended when none other than Bopara hung onto a skier. Manoj Tiwary departed soon after, but David Hussey and Angelo Matthews made sure the Knight Riders set the Kings a daunting target of 201.

In the end, all Gayle heroics were not enough as Jayawardene saw Kings XI Punjab home in fine style.

Preity Zinta at KXIP 7th match

March 30: Mumbai Indians vs Kings XI Punjab

More Pic