Category: Sports

SC asks BCCI to incur England series expenses; report to Lodha

MUMBAI: The Supreme Court today directed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to incur the expenses for all the matches to be played in the India-England series till 3 December. The apex court allowed the BCCI to utilize a sum of Rs 58.66 lakh for the first test.

Also ordering the BCCI to bear the entire expense for the maiden Rajkot match on October 9, a Bench led by Chief Justice of India T.S. Thakur said the payments should be made directly to the parties BCCI has contracted with for the series.

The Hindu reported that the Bench made it clear that BCCI should not pay member-associations where the series is going to be held, including the Rajkot/Saurashtra association, all whom have not complied with the court’s October 21 order.

Expenses incurred by the BCCI would be handed over to the Lodha panel which will audit it. The Committee has been permitted to appoint an auditor immediately.

Also read: No funds for England series, BCCI moves Supreme Court

Funds-starved BCCI may move SC citing England series urgency

November 8, 2016
SC asks BCCI to incur England series expenses; report to Lodha

MUMBAI: The Supreme Court today directed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to incur the expenses for all the matches to be played in the India-England series till 3 December. The apex court allowed the BCCI to utilize a sum of Rs 58.66 lakh for the first test.

Also ordering the BCCI to bear the entire expense for the maiden Rajkot match on October 9, a Bench led by Chief Justice of India T.S. Thakur said the payments should be made directly to the parties BCCI has contracted with for the series.

The Hindu reported that the Bench made it clear that BCCI should not pay member-associations where the series is going to be held, including the Rajkot/Saurashtra association, all whom have not complied with the court’s October 21 order.

Expenses incurred by the BCCI would be handed over to the Lodha panel which will audit it. The Committee has been permitted to appoint an auditor immediately.

Also read: No funds for England series, BCCI moves Supreme Court

Funds-starved BCCI may move SC citing England series urgency

November 8, 2016
Biswas new ESPN head – southeast Asia; Cooke expands role

MUMBAI: ESPN has added to and newly aligned its leadership team in the region to manage its expanding position in the region.

Joyee Biswas has joined the sports media leader as the new head of Southeast Asia. Biswas will be based in ESPN’s offices in Singapore and report to Mike Morrison, vice president and managing director, ESPN APAC, based in Shanghai.

Prior to joining ESPN, Biswas was managing director, Asia for Eleven Sports Network. He previously headed up sports content for Singtel TV as well as content acquisition and management for Fox International Channels and ESPN Star Sports.

Additionally, Kelly Cooke will take on the expanded role of general manager, ESPN North Asia. Based n Hong Kong, Cooke will be responsible for helping manage ESPN’s long-term collaboration with Tencent in China, as well as the growth of partnerships, media distribution, ad sales, digital – focusing on China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

In addition to Biswas and Cooke, ESPN has made additional personnel moves recently to align with its growing business.

In support of ESPN’s relationship with Tencent, the company produces and delivers both original and adapted content such as video and coverage of sports including the NBA, global football and more. To provide focused oversight and coordination of that, ESPN has tapped Bowen Dou and Michael Huang to take on important new roles.

Dou takes on the role of coordinating producer, international production. Based in ESPN’s Bristol, CT, USA headquarters and working closely with teams at both ESPN and Tencent. Dou will lead the coordination of all video production supporting the Tencent relationship, including original Chinese-language video such as “ESPN On Court” NBA content, original studio programming and other video production and adaption.

Huang takes on the expanded role of deputy editor, ESPN Digital & Print Media. He will work in close coordination with ESPN’s worldwide digital and television editorial teams, leading a team focused on the creation and adaption of sports news and information content for the ESPN section on QQ.com, as well as identifying and telling sports stories originating in China that have resonance in other parts of the world.

Marc Mallett, will now lead ESPN’s advertising efforts across Asia as the new Director of Sponsorship and Ad Sales, ESPN APAC. Based in Singapore, he will be focused on identifying new sales opportunities and clients, as well as the development of compelling advertising solutions for clients and agencies – like its ongoing TCL campaign – which leverage ESPN’s distinct content creation capability.

ESPN Australia and New Zealand vice president and general manager Haydn Arndt continues to lead ESPN’s dynamic multiplatform business in Australia and New Zealand, as it sets viewership records on television and has established a digital leadership position.
ESPN India and South Asia head and vice president Ramesh Kumar continues to manage and grow ESPN’s business in India and the subcontinent, including the Sony ESPN collaboration, as well as leading the ESPNcricinfo business globally.

“These moves ensure that we have an outstanding and innovative ESPN leadership team in place to continue our growth in the APAC region,” said Morrison. “It’s an exciting time for ESPN in the region, with ground-breaking collaborations in China and India, a thriving multimedia business in Australia and New Zealand, further expansion and localization of the world’s leading digital sports business and continued exploration of new business opportunities in Southeast and North Asia.”

November 8, 2016
Biswas new ESPN head – southeast Asia; Cooke expands role

MUMBAI: ESPN has added to and newly aligned its leadership team in the region to manage its expanding position in the region.

Joyee Biswas has joined the sports media leader as the new head of Southeast Asia. Biswas will be based in ESPN’s offices in Singapore and report to Mike Morrison, vice president and managing director, ESPN APAC, based in Shanghai.

Prior to joining ESPN, Biswas was managing director, Asia for Eleven Sports Network. He previously headed up sports content for Singtel TV as well as content acquisition and management for Fox International Channels and ESPN Star Sports.

Additionally, Kelly Cooke will take on the expanded role of general manager, ESPN North Asia. Based n Hong Kong, Cooke will be responsible for helping manage ESPN’s long-term collaboration with Tencent in China, as well as the growth of partnerships, media distribution, ad sales, digital – focusing on China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

In addition to Biswas and Cooke, ESPN has made additional personnel moves recently to align with its growing business.

In support of ESPN’s relationship with Tencent, the company produces and delivers both original and adapted content such as video and coverage of sports including the NBA, global football and more. To provide focused oversight and coordination of that, ESPN has tapped Bowen Dou and Michael Huang to take on important new roles.

Dou takes on the role of coordinating producer, international production. Based in ESPN’s Bristol, CT, USA headquarters and working closely with teams at both ESPN and Tencent. Dou will lead the coordination of all video production supporting the Tencent relationship, including original Chinese-language video such as “ESPN On Court” NBA content, original studio programming and other video production and adaption.

Huang takes on the expanded role of deputy editor, ESPN Digital & Print Media. He will work in close coordination with ESPN’s worldwide digital and television editorial teams, leading a team focused on the creation and adaption of sports news and information content for the ESPN section on QQ.com, as well as identifying and telling sports stories originating in China that have resonance in other parts of the world.

Marc Mallett, will now lead ESPN’s advertising efforts across Asia as the new Director of Sponsorship and Ad Sales, ESPN APAC. Based in Singapore, he will be focused on identifying new sales opportunities and clients, as well as the development of compelling advertising solutions for clients and agencies – like its ongoing TCL campaign – which leverage ESPN’s distinct content creation capability.

ESPN Australia and New Zealand vice president and general manager Haydn Arndt continues to lead ESPN’s dynamic multiplatform business in Australia and New Zealand, as it sets viewership records on television and has established a digital leadership position.
ESPN India and South Asia head and vice president Ramesh Kumar continues to manage and grow ESPN’s business in India and the subcontinent, including the Sony ESPN collaboration, as well as leading the ESPNcricinfo business globally.

“These moves ensure that we have an outstanding and innovative ESPN leadership team in place to continue our growth in the APAC region,” said Morrison. “It’s an exciting time for ESPN in the region, with ground-breaking collaborations in China and India, a thriving multimedia business in Australia and New Zealand, further expansion and localization of the world’s leading digital sports business and continued exploration of new business opportunities in Southeast and North Asia.”

November 8, 2016
No funds for England series, BCCI moves Supreme Court

MUMBAI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) today moved the Supreme Court, saying there are no funds for the India-England Test series scheduled to start tomorrow (9 November) in Rajkot. The BCCI said the Lodha panel has to release funds needed for the series with immediate effect.

The Supreme Court bench says it will consult the Chief Justice of India on the matter. In response, the Lodha panel has opposed BCCI submission, saying that the cricket body is in contempt by not respective apex court orders.

Justice RM Lodha panel secretary, Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, told the Hindu neither the BCCI nor its member-state associations has given compliance reports or undertakings that they would comply with the recommendations as per the Supreme Court verdict on October 21.

The court has frozen the disbursal of funds from BCCI to state member-associations till the latter comply with the panel recommendations. The Board approached Justice Dave’s Bench as Chief Justice of India T.S. Thakur is heading a Constitution Bench. Justice Dave said his Bench would consult with the Chief Justice and get back at 2 pm.

The new move on the eve of the series comes despite the Supreme Court concluding in a 21-page judgment that BCCI’s top administrators, including its president and BJP MP Anurag Thakur, were an impediment to Justice R.M. Lodha Committee’s efforts to reform Indian cricket.

Senior counsel for the BCCI, Kapil Sibal, and his team gathered to draft the petition. BCCI’s contention is that, in line with the October 21 order of the SC, the BCCI president and the secretary both have filed their respective affidavits with the Lodha Committee. The Board says it hasn’t heard from the committee yet and there’s been no acknowledgement on the affidavits and the email communication either.

BCCI is looking to raise the matter in the SC today, citing absolute confusion in the matter that has led to all administrative processes coming to a standstill. The Board says, “there are contracts waiting to be signed, agreements with the England Cricket Board is pending, there’s no word on the IPL media rights tender and there’s hardly any time left for the 2017 edition and preparations need to begin.”

The apex court, in a slew of directions, had sought appointment of an “independent auditor” to “scrutinise and audit” the income and expenditure of the cash-rich body besides going into high-value contracts awarded to various entities awarded by it.

November 8, 2016
No funds for England series, BCCI moves Supreme Court

MUMBAI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) today moved the Supreme Court, saying there are no funds for the India-England Test series scheduled to start tomorrow (9 November) in Rajkot. The BCCI said the Lodha panel has to release funds needed for the series with immediate effect.

The Supreme Court bench says it will consult the Chief Justice of India on the matter. In response, the Lodha panel has opposed BCCI submission, saying that the cricket body is in contempt by not respective apex court orders.

Justice RM Lodha panel secretary, Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, told the Hindu neither the BCCI nor its member-state associations has given compliance reports or undertakings that they would comply with the recommendations as per the Supreme Court verdict on October 21.

The court has frozen the disbursal of funds from BCCI to state member-associations till the latter comply with the panel recommendations. The Board approached Justice Dave’s Bench as Chief Justice of India T.S. Thakur is heading a Constitution Bench. Justice Dave said his Bench would consult with the Chief Justice and get back at 2 pm.

The new move on the eve of the series comes despite the Supreme Court concluding in a 21-page judgment that BCCI’s top administrators, including its president and BJP MP Anurag Thakur, were an impediment to Justice R.M. Lodha Committee’s efforts to reform Indian cricket.

Senior counsel for the BCCI, Kapil Sibal, and his team gathered to draft the petition. BCCI’s contention is that, in line with the October 21 order of the SC, the BCCI president and the secretary both have filed their respective affidavits with the Lodha Committee. The Board says it hasn’t heard from the committee yet and there’s been no acknowledgement on the affidavits and the email communication either.

BCCI is looking to raise the matter in the SC today, citing absolute confusion in the matter that has led to all administrative processes coming to a standstill. The Board says, “there are contracts waiting to be signed, agreements with the England Cricket Board is pending, there’s no word on the IPL media rights tender and there’s hardly any time left for the 2017 edition and preparations need to begin.”

The apex court, in a slew of directions, had sought appointment of an “independent auditor” to “scrutinise and audit” the income and expenditure of the cash-rich body besides going into high-value contracts awarded to various entities awarded by it.

November 8, 2016
Funds-starved BCCI may move SC citing England series urgency

MUMBAI: With England’s tour of India just a day away, the BCCI plans to move the Supreme Court on Tuesday seeking an order allowing it to enter into contracts for the sake of Rajkot Test. Saurashtra’s premier city is to host the first India-England Test from Wednesday.

The BCCI, as per protocol, has informed the Justice RM Lodha committee that the Supreme Court would be moved because of the urgency with which it needs to act as regards the Rajkot Test.

With the apex court and the Justice Lodha committee disallowing the Board of Control for Cricket in India to use its funds until an independent auditor goes through them, the latter is getting desperate. If the IPL media rights auction had gone ahead as planned, it would have reportedly fetched BCCI around Rs 30,000 crore (US$ 4500 million approx).

BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke told The Telegraph that their hands were tied as the Justice Lodha committee had neither set the threshold limit for them to award contracts nor had it appointed an independent auditor as per the October 21 directions of the Supreme Court. They were, therefore, filing an interim application, he added. Certain basic agreements with specific vendors had to be entered into by the BCCI, and each of them would become a contract.

If the Supreme Court doesn’t pass an order allowing BCCI to engage in contracts, which in any case won’t be big, then the board does not see how the first Test could be played, Shirke said.

In fact, in its interim application, BCCI would also be praying that the needful be done by the Justice Lodha committee before the start of the second Test in Visakhapatnam from November 17 so that the same issues did not come up again.

The New Indian Express meantime reported that the BCCI will file an urgent petition seeking relaxation on releasing funds to state units that are scheduled to host the five-match Test series. Moreover, the BCCI will also ask the court to allow it to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the England and Wales Cricket Board for the series to go ahead. The BCCI will argue that an adverse decision from the court will force it to call off the series.

Last week, Shirke had written to the Lodha panel seeking directions on signing the MoU with ECB. However the panel informed the board that MoU is not a mandate for the series to go ahead and it cannot release the funds until all the necessary details are furnished.

November 8, 2016
Funds-starved BCCI may move SC citing England series urgency

MUMBAI: With England’s tour of India just a day away, the BCCI plans to move the Supreme Court on Tuesday seeking an order allowing it to enter into contracts for the sake of Rajkot Test. Saurashtra’s premier city is to host the first India-England Test from Wednesday.

The BCCI, as per protocol, has informed the Justice RM Lodha committee that the Supreme Court would be moved because of the urgency with which it needs to act as regards the Rajkot Test.

With the apex court and the Justice Lodha committee disallowing the Board of Control for Cricket in India to use its funds until an independent auditor goes through them, the latter is getting desperate. If the IPL media rights auction had gone ahead as planned, it would have reportedly fetched BCCI around Rs 30,000 crore (US$ 4500 million approx).

BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke told The Telegraph that their hands were tied as the Justice Lodha committee had neither set the threshold limit for them to award contracts nor had it appointed an independent auditor as per the October 21 directions of the Supreme Court. They were, therefore, filing an interim application, he added. Certain basic agreements with specific vendors had to be entered into by the BCCI, and each of them would become a contract.

If the Supreme Court doesn’t pass an order allowing BCCI to engage in contracts, which in any case won’t be big, then the board does not see how the first Test could be played, Shirke said.

In fact, in its interim application, BCCI would also be praying that the needful be done by the Justice Lodha committee before the start of the second Test in Visakhapatnam from November 17 so that the same issues did not come up again.

The New Indian Express meantime reported that the BCCI will file an urgent petition seeking relaxation on releasing funds to state units that are scheduled to host the five-match Test series. Moreover, the BCCI will also ask the court to allow it to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the England and Wales Cricket Board for the series to go ahead. The BCCI will argue that an adverse decision from the court will force it to call off the series.

Last week, Shirke had written to the Lodha panel seeking directions on signing the MoU with ECB. However the panel informed the board that MoU is not a mandate for the series to go ahead and it cannot release the funds until all the necessary details are furnished.

November 8, 2016
SPN India acquires BPL 2016 broadcast & digital rights

MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India has acquired the broadcast and digital rights of the fourth edition of the Bangladesh Premier League 2016.

The tournament, which is known as the biggest cricket extravaganza in Bangladesh, will commence today (4 November) and will be telecast on Sony Six and Sony Six HD as well as streamed live on SonyLIV app and website.

The on-air broadcast rights include the telecast of 43 live matches of the tournament in the Indian Sub-continent. Along with live streaming, SonyLiv will also be providing fans with a lot of exclusive Video-On-Demand (VOD) content like highlights, best sixes, best catches, fielding and more.

The Bangladesh Premier League 2016 which is now in its very successful fourth season has grown in its popularity which each edition. The tournament is played in the T20 format and will feature a total of seven teams which include six teams from the previous season and the addition of one new franchise from Khulna and Rajshahi. Apart from Khulna and Rajarshi, the other teams are Comilla Victorians, Barisal Bulls, Rangpur Riders, Dhaka Dynamites and Chittagong Vikings. This season of the tournament will see the likes of some of the biggest names in cricket – Dwayne Bravo, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Dwayne Smith.

The first match of BPL 2016 will be played between Rajshahi Kings and Comilla Victorians at Dhaka. The top four teams from the group stage will qualify for the knockout stage which includes the semi-finals, the eliminator and the final match. The semi-finals of BPL 2016 will take place on 8th December, 2016, while the final will be played on 9th December, 2016, in Dhaka.

Sony Pictures Network distribution and sports business president Rajesh Kaul, “Sony Pictures Networks India has been in the forefront of bringing and popularizing theT20 league format of cricket. Following our previous offerings of Indian Premier League, Caribbean Premier League, South African T20 league & Karnataka Premier League, we are pleased to announce the addition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) to our T20 cricket portfolio. The BPL line-up is particularly impressive with International cricketers like Chris Gayle, Thisara Perera, Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo and more that our viewers can look forward to.”

November 4, 2016
SPN India acquires BPL 2016 broadcast & digital rights

MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India has acquired the broadcast and digital rights of the fourth edition of the Bangladesh Premier League 2016.

The tournament, which is known as the biggest cricket extravaganza in Bangladesh, will commence today (4 November) and will be telecast on Sony Six and Sony Six HD as well as streamed live on SonyLIV app and website.

The on-air broadcast rights include the telecast of 43 live matches of the tournament in the Indian Sub-continent. Along with live streaming, SonyLiv will also be providing fans with a lot of exclusive Video-On-Demand (VOD) content like highlights, best sixes, best catches, fielding and more.

The Bangladesh Premier League 2016 which is now in its very successful fourth season has grown in its popularity which each edition. The tournament is played in the T20 format and will feature a total of seven teams which include six teams from the previous season and the addition of one new franchise from Khulna and Rajshahi. Apart from Khulna and Rajarshi, the other teams are Comilla Victorians, Barisal Bulls, Rangpur Riders, Dhaka Dynamites and Chittagong Vikings. This season of the tournament will see the likes of some of the biggest names in cricket – Dwayne Bravo, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Dwayne Smith.

The first match of BPL 2016 will be played between Rajshahi Kings and Comilla Victorians at Dhaka. The top four teams from the group stage will qualify for the knockout stage which includes the semi-finals, the eliminator and the final match. The semi-finals of BPL 2016 will take place on 8th December, 2016, while the final will be played on 9th December, 2016, in Dhaka.

Sony Pictures Network distribution and sports business president Rajesh Kaul, “Sony Pictures Networks India has been in the forefront of bringing and popularizing theT20 league format of cricket. Following our previous offerings of Indian Premier League, Caribbean Premier League, South African T20 league & Karnataka Premier League, we are pleased to announce the addition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) to our T20 cricket portfolio. The BPL line-up is particularly impressive with International cricketers like Chris Gayle, Thisara Perera, Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo and more that our viewers can look forward to.”

November 4, 2016