We all know that Preity Zinta owns a part of the 20Twenty team Kings XI Punjab along with boyfriend Ness Wadia. But not many know her actual reason for joining the IPL.

“I had originally planned to start a special sports school in memory of my father, but then I put off that idea due to lack of funds. However, determined about starting something sports-related, I chose to get into the IPL.” revealed the dimpled actress,

She further stated, “My father was very interested in sports. In Northern India, he used to organize the Durganand Zinta Football Tournament. He used to sponsor poor children who were interested in sports. After his death, I decided to start a school that pays special attention to sports. It was to be a huge project. But I didn’t have the resources to start it just yet. So I put that dream on hold. And thought to myself, ‘Why not get into the IPL?’. I’d been hearing a lot about it. And that’s how it happened.”

Indian Premier League Commissioner and Board of Control for Cricket in India vice-president Lalit Modi has said he would more than pleased to have troubled all-rounder Andrew Symonds participate full time in the second edition of the IPL, which is slotted for April-May this year.

Despite the former Test star's off-field controversies, Modi said Symonds would not be blacklisted from competing in the 20-over extravaganza.

"If he is not picked in the Australian team, I would like to see him here for the whole tournament. That would be great," Modi said.

"He would be a wonderful asset. If there was a ban on him by the ICC, that is one thing, but he has not made any derogatory comments or done anything wrong as far as the IPL is concerned. He is a contracted player to the Deccan Chargers and I see no reason why he shouldn't be able to play," Modi added.

Symonds will be almost a million better off if Cricket Australia rules him unfit for the limited-overs series against Pakistan in April.

Even as he embarks on a counselling programme, according to Fox Sports, he stands to profit handsomely if his exile is extended beyond the tour of South Africa.

Any decision by CA to block Symonds will allow him to be available for the duration of the cash-crazy Indian Premier League.

His deal with the Deccan Chargers is valued at 1.47 million dollars and he will pocket every cent if he plays out the six-week tournament.

But if he is cleared to play five one-dayers against Pakistan, Symonds will have only a two-week window to appear in the IPL, slashing his earnings potential to 490,000 dollars.

A five-match stint against Pakistan will earn Symonds 30,600 dollars in match fees - meaning his prospective recall to the national set-up will cost him about 949,400 dollars.

The financial advantages of the IPL have fuelled speculation Symonds could walk away from Australian cricket in favour of an annual six-week cameo in India.

Cricket Australia spokesman Peter Young said the governing body would not force Symonds to sit out the IPL if deemed unfit for the Pakistan series.

The enigmatic Queenslander has just over a month to convince CA he is in an appropriate state of mind to return to the Australian fold.

The Indian cricket squad for two Twenty20 internationals and five One-Dayers against New Zealand, commencing this month, would be picked on February 13.

"The squad would be selected at the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association's premises in Chennai," Cricket Board sources said on Monday.

The squad for the following three-Test series, scheduled from March 18 to April 7, would be chosen later.

Former BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah has been nominated as the team's manager for the first part of the tour.

The team is set to depart for New Zealand from Mumbai in the early hours of February 19 after the BCCI's annual awards function on February 18 evening, the BCCI sources added.

New Zealand tour itinerary:

Feb 20: India arrive in New Zealand

Feb 25: Twenty20 International, Christchurch

Feb 27: Twenty20 International, Wellington

Mar 3: Ist ODI, Napier

Mar 6: 2nd ODI, Wellington

Mar 8: 3rd ODI, Christchurch

Mar 11: 4th ODI, Hamilton

Mar 14: 5th ODI, Auckland

Mar 18-22: 1st Test, Hamilton

Mar 26-30: 2nd Test, Napier

April 37: 3rd Test, Wellington.