<!--[In his weekly column, CricketCrowd’s resident writer Gav Jayasinghe captures the key quotes from around the world, and he brings them to life with his editorial comments to put them in context

<!--1. The most encouraging aspect of this tournament has been the interaction between the two categories of players.” Kumar Sangakkara, on the IPL, and how it promotes interaction and transferring of skills, as seasoned internationals play alongside Indian Under-19 and Ranji Trophy cricketers.

<!--i2."Once Shoaib sees the crowds, and of course the babes around, I think he will be able to perform." Pakistani legend, Wasim Akram , reveals what matters the most to former team mate, Shoaib Akthar . Earlier on in the week, the PCB granted him a “No Objection Certificate,” to play in the IPL.

<!->3.“I've had offers to join the IPL but I'm desperate to work my way back into the England side. My aim is and always has been to play for England, but if you're not getting in the side the IPL is a big carrot."” England's Sajid Mahmood gives us an indication of a trend to expect in the future. If persistence doesn’t pay off with one’s national team, go join the Indian Premier League!

<!->4."What I did was wrong. Sree is like my younger brother," Harbhajan Singh apologized and admitted that he was wrong, after last week’s spat between himself and Sreesanth .

<!--5.“For about an hour I could have been in the boxing ring with Joe Calzaghe and by the end of it I had literally copped a hammering.” Justin Langer (Somerset) speaks of Andrew Flintoff’s ferocious spell for Lancashire, just last week. Langer also added that if his spell was anything to go by, he was absolutely sure that Flintoff should be picked for the first Test against New Zealand.

<!--6."The company has every right to hire and fire personnel. For details of why I was summarily dismissed from my duties, three hours before I was to board a flight to Kolkata for the next match, please contact representatives of the company." Charu Sharma, the CEO of the Bangalore Royal Challengers, who was removed from his position on Tuesday, stated that he did not step down from the job as the IPL franchise said, but was dismissed. The removal came after the team’s fifth loss (in seven games) on Monday.

This weekly column is authored by Gav Jayasinghe who is based in Missouri, USA.

29th April 2008