Scrapped GT20 spells trouble for Cricket South Africa, franchise claims damages

Fears of legal trouble over the scrapped Global T20 League are coming true for Cricket South Africa. One of the franchise owners of GT20, the league that failed to take off, has now reportedly claimed $515,627 in damages. 

Pretoria Mavericks owner Hiren Bhanu is suing CSA for $515 627.91 plus interest and costs of the suit on account of losses and compensation, states a Cricinfo report.

The Global T20 League was due to have its first edition in November-December last year. However, the much-anticipated and much-hyped tournament was canned in the absence of a broadcast deal under the leadership of former CEO Haroon Lorgat. Losses incurred by last year’s postponement is tipped to cost CSA several million dollars. 

The T20 Global League has since been replaced by a new-look tournament, the Mzansi Super League, which does not allow for private ownership.

In August this year, it was confirmed that Bhanu received $250 000 as a compensation for the initial deposit. However the Mavericks owner finds the compensation inadequate.

“We’re going to sue them for damages for the efforts that we put in,” Cricinfo has quoted Bhanu as saying before initiating the legal proceedings. “Some people were paid their expenses, and they are happy with that. I’m not happy with that. We just want to be compensated for our time and effort.”

According to the legal documents accessed by the website, Bhanu claimed he spent $81,247.76 on marketing, $68,538.68 on legal fees, $107,216.81 on salaries and wages and $103,754.22 on travel as well as various other expenses.

Star dedicates 14 screens, Hotstar, 5-language broadcast for Khelo India

Star India has committed to broadcast the Khelo India School Games in five languages across 14 Star Sports cluster screens as the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced a “bigger, better” second edition. ‘

In an unprecedented move, India’s leading sports broadcaster Star has announced to broadcast the Khelo India School Games on Star Sports1 SD and HD; Star Sports 2 SD and HD; Star Sports 3;  Star Sports 1 Hindi SD and HD; Star Sports Select1 SD and HD; Star Sports Select 2 SD and HD; Star Sports 1 Tamil; Star Sports 1 Telugu and Star Sports First for the Khelo India Games.

The broadcaster will produce the live feed in five languages – English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada.

The broadcast initiative is not just about the numbers. Star has dedicated its main TRP drivers, like the Star Sports 1 Hindi and free to air Star Sports First, for the Games. The two channels regularly feature in the top five on the Broadcast Audience Research Council sports genre television ratings charts.

Star is expected to launch the Star Sports 1 Kannada by the month end. The channel will broadcast the Khelo India Kannada feed.

To support the Khelo India initiative by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Star India has doubled the level of promotion and broadcast coverage for Khelo India Youth Games, Maharashtra 2019.

Mr. Sanjay Gupta, Managing Director, Star India said, “The first edition of Khelo India exceeded expectations and instilled an aspiration for sports amongst the youth in India and now, with “5 minute aur”, we are aiming to trigger more pro sport conversations to make India adopt sports as a way of life. The campaign calls for the Indian sports enthusiast to not only support their heroes, but also work towards emulating their feats.”

“Staying true to our commitment of bringing the best in class sports experience to the passionate Indian sports fan, we will broadcast Khelo India Youth Games in 5 languages this season along with LIVE telecast of 9 disciplines, he further added.”

 The games will be telecast live across Star Sports Network and Hotstar.

The Ministry has announced the Khelo India Youth Games, Maharashtra 2019, to be ‘Bigger and Better!’ as it will widen the Games scope and reach out to University and College students across the country with the competitions spanning across 18 sporting disciplines.

Star India has already made the Games bigger and better from the broadcast perspective with a plan only considered for the high-ticket global events.

As part of the campaign, Star India has joined the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to urge the nation to go out and play – This time for “#5MinuteAur”.

The campaign TVC features prominent sports youth icons – Manu Bhaker and Neeraj Chopra among others.

The Ministry and Star Sports kick started the countdown to Khelo India Youth Games, Maharashtra 2019 with an appeal to encourage India to play more –  with the evocative ‘#5MinuteAur’ campaign.

The campaign has a strong call to action, taking the Khelo India movement forward, featuring – Manu Bhaker, Jeremy Lalrinnunga, Saurabh Chaudhary, Lakshya Sen, Esha Singh, Tababi Devi, Srihari Natraj and champions Mary Kom, Sushil Kumar among others bringing childhood playground memories to life.

The #5MinuteAur campaign created this year has a simple insight – we are all born with an inherit instinct to play, kids and adults alike. Building on the core of this message through the #5MinuteAur campaign, Star Sports and the ministry want India to encourage kids to play for those extra 5 minutes.

“The 5 minutes is symbolic, with an assumption that if each child plays a little bit longer, we will add a billion minutes of play every day, that has the potential to translate into 50 medals for the country,” stated a Press release.

Portraying this five-minute agreement between a mother and a child, the aim with #5MinuteAur is to spark a fire in every enthusiast in India to strive for better through sports. Establishing the message that sports builds and defines our personalities, the more we play the better we get. The manifesto, “Hum Aaj Aur Khelenge Toh Kal Aur Jeetenge” is true not just for the sport we play, but for life itself.

Scheduled to take place at Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Pune from January 9-20, 2019, Khelo India Youth Games, Maharashtra 2019 will see over 10,000 participants from 29 States and 7 Union Territories. The Games will bring to life by over 6,200 athletes, 1,800 Technical Officials, 1,000 volunteers and 1,000 personnel working behind the scenes.

Conceptualised to revive the sports culture in India at grass-root level by building a strong framework for all sports played in our country, the upcoming season of Khelo India Youth Games will be held across 18 sporting disciplines in the Under-17 and Under– 21 age categories.

“The success of Khelo India School Games is a testimony to the hunger and multitude of sporting talent in India. Buoyed by the terrific response for Khelo India School Games and with an aim to increase participation in sports across all age groups, we have not just added two sports this year but the games will also be played under two age categories U-17 and U-21 to allow even more enthusiasts to participate and flourish. The ‘#5MinutAaur’ campaign for the Khelo India Youth Games 2019 to be hosted in Pune, Maharashtra is a reflection of the immense strides we’ve made and the journey that lies in front of us to make India a truly sporting nation. We hope it will inspire India to work towards incorporating sports as a way of life,” said Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs.

FIFA firm on Club World Cup, task force meets

A FIFA task force has discussed the possible formats, dates and slot allocations for the proposed Club World Cup and a Global Nations League.

A panel set up by football’s world governing body, FIFA, at its maiden meeting to discuss revamping the Club World Cup and creating a global Nations League did not address a $25 billion funding offer from Japanese investor Soft Bank, which is closely associated to the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth.

The task force, with members from all six continental governing bodies, looked only at “technical and sporting elements” of new events for clubs and national teams, says FIFA.  The panel will propose at least one version of each competition to a March 15 meeting in Miami of FIFA’s ruling council.

FIFA says “parallel consultation” will also continue with clubs, league and player unions.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has this year pushed a $25 billion, 12-year offer from Japanese investor Softbank, which has close ties to Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth. European football officials blocked approval, citing FIFA’s secrecy about the no-tender deal,thestate.com has reported.

The task force set up to examine FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s plans for the new Club World Cup and a Global Nations Leagueat its first meeting looked into the possible formats, dates and slot allocations.

Infantino has proposed a revamped Club World Cup every four years with up to 24 teams, while his Nations League would take the form of a mini World Cup with an eight-team final tournament every two years.

However, FIFA President’s financial and funding proposal about a $25 billion investment by a consortium over a 12-year-cycle in return for 49 per cent ownership of the competitions did not come up for discussion at the meeting.

The task form is entrusted to suggest into the format of Club World Cup, it would also look at the number of teams and who would qualify. For the Nations League it would consider the impact on qualifying competitions for existing continental competitions and the World Cup.

FIFA said the task force consisted of members appointed by the six continental confederations, while a “parallel consultation” would take place with clubs, players and leagues.

The proposals will be presented to the next FIFA Council meeting in Miami in March.

IPL LIVE Updates: Mustafizur fails to get NOC from Bangladesh Board

Bangladesh pace spearhead Mustafizur Rahman will miss the Indian Premier League 2019. He had been denied the mandatory no-objection certificate by the Bangladesh Cricket Board.

The BCB was not willing to take any chances with the fitness and preparations of the mainstay in its bowling line-up just ahead of the ICC World Cup in England and Wales. He has been denied permission to participate in any overseas professional cricket leagues during the World Cup year.

Mustafizur is the only prominent name who failed to get his the BCB nod for the IPL. However, the BCB has cleared ten names for the IPL 2019. Veteran Shakib al Hasan has been retained by the Sunrisers Hyderabad, while the other nine will be the part of the player pool for the IPL action, slated for October 18 in Jaipur.

Mustafizur was the part of Mumbai Indians this year. But injury kept him on the sidelined for a major part of the season as he could play only one match.

The IPL 2019 auctions will see a total of 10 Bangladesh players up for grabs. Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Soumya Sarkar, Sabbir Rahman, Imrul Kayes, Abu Hider, Liton Das and Nayeem Hasan. Shakib-Al Hasan will be the tenth player in the auctions after he was retained by Sunrisers Hyderabad earlier this year. All these 10 players will be given the NOC by the Bangladesh Cricket Board.

Delhi Half Marathon raises record ₹16.60 cr for charities

The Delhi Half Marathon this year has raised a record ₹16.6 crore for charities, a 105% jump over the amount raised during the event last year. India Cares, the philanthropy partner to the event with the perseverance of 91 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) shattered all records in their benevolent efforts.

The citizens of Delhi showcased in abundance their “heart of gold” and that impossible is nothing! Since inception, Airtel Delhi Half Marathon has now raised a total of Rs 67.16 crore towards charity.

The funds raised by the CSOs will focus on creating a positive impact for different sections of our society – children in homes and schools, youth skill development, environment protection and saving animals, special care for differently abled and health services.

For this edition, India Cares Foundation concentrated their efforts on providing support and guidance in communications and appeals to reach out to more people – this has shown results with 82% of funds coming from and through an individual asking another individual.

A total of 66 companies fielded 91 corporate cares teams and 195 individuals reached out and received contributions from 8,010 family members, friends and colleagues. Incidentally, many CSOs got the confidence to reach out to networks and individuals on their own and this has generated 61% of the total funds!

The remarkable feat by the top fundraising CSO Udayan Care, which generated ₹9.02 crore, has set a records in crowd funding, not just for ADHM, but for marathons across the world. This amount would be in the top-5 Charities of Boston Marathon in 2018 and it is also more than all the other 90 CSOs of this edition!

Murray Culshaw, Chairperson and Founder, India Cares Foundation, states “Delhi amazes us. When we think there is no more room to push, it stretches! Our emphasis on encouraging individuals to raise funds is now well established, with 82% of contributions this year coming from individuals and raised by individuals.

“A ‘thank you’ is such an inadequate word, for the impact that these funds will enable CSOs (NGOs) to bring for the betterment of our Society.  Until we find a stronger word… Thank You to every donor, fundraiser and CSO who participated in Airtel Delhi Half Marathon and especially to Procam International and the sponsors for creating this platform!”

In his concluding remarks, Vivek Singh, Jt.MD Procam International, said, “Sport remarkably pushes humans to unprecedented limits. It has the ability to inspire, birth incredible stories and bring out the gold in humanity. Rs. 16.60 crores raised towards charity is a testimony to the effectiveness of ADHM as a platform and its potential to create an ever-lasting impact on society. Kudos to all the CSOs, individual fundraisers, corporates, runners and the team at India Cares for showcasing the true power of this platform. This has been a befitting closure to a glorious edition of ADHM.”

“The show is dedicated to those people who believes in the social cause, This night is just not a fundraising night, but rather the belief that people have come together to promote this noble cause. When someone receives an award, a big responsibility is bestowed on that person to be that path bearer in bringing about a substantial change for good in the society,” said Mr. Vijay Goel, Minister for State, Parliamentary Affairs, Govt. of India

The impact of ADHM truly resonates beyond the race day. The support for numerous causes has doubled in the last 5 years through the event. Since 2014 the funds generated through ADHM have doubled and an average of 75,000 people have been aided every year – a 1:2 ratio for every runner in  ADHM!

The funds raised in 2017, have contributed towards the construction of 12 new classrooms, 10 current classrooms furnished, 350 women empowered to start earning, 1160 women empowered with self-defense training, an old age home for women constructed and 68 young adults trained in IIT and placed in companies.

WINNERS ACROSS DIFFERENT CATEGORIES

Care Champions Platinum (Individuals taking on a target of ₹10 lakh for their cause). Top fundraiser: Vivek N Gour raised ₹41,60,977 in support of Sri Sathya Sai Health and Education Trust

Care Champions Diamond (taking on a target of ₹5 lakh for their cause) Highest Fundraiser of this edition and Care Champion Diamond, Dr Nandita Chakraborty raised ₹5,78,550/- in support of Lotus Petal Foundation.

 Care Champions Gold (taking on a target of Rs 2.50 lakh for their cause). Top fundraiser: PN Narayanaswamy raised Rs 4,49,733 in support of Miracle Foundation

 Care Champions Silver (taking on a target of Rs 1 lakh for their cause). Top fundraiser: Dr Geetanjali Chopra raised ₹10,02,625/- in support of Wishes and Blessings.

Youngest Care Champion: 15-year-old Kris Nagdev raised ₹1,96,010/- in support of Concern India Foundation.

Youth Cares (Teams of 3 students aiming to raise INR 75,000 for their chosen CSO.). Highest Fundraising Team: Md. Aftab Alam, Rinku Kumari & Kishan Lal raised INR 31,43,980/- in support of Lotus Petal Foundation.

Corporate Cares (Companies that contribute to chosen CSOs and also encourage their employees in contributing to and fundraising for a cause).

Highest Corporate Contribution: Hero MotoCorp Ltd –₹29,00,000.

Highest Corporate Cares Fundraising Team: Fluor India raised ₹6,68,889

Highest fundraising individual from a corporate cares team: Ravindra Singh from Kotak Mahindra Bank raised ₹1,00,000.

iCare Fundraisers (Individuals who raise funds in support of a cause)

Highest Individual iCare Fundraiser: Ranjana Mahajan raised for Sukarya ₹ 5,17,200.

2nd Highest Individual iCare Fundraiser: Anil Chawla raised for Save the Children India ₹5,04,10o.

Highest fundraising organisation: Udayan Care ₹9,02,35,153.

2nd Highest fundraising organisation: Lotus Petal Foundation ₹1,78, 83, 610.

3rd Highest fundraising organisation: Bharti Foundation INR 1,22,55,600.

World Champion Mary Kom extends management deal with IOS

AIBA Legend and the undisputed queen of Indian boxing, MC Mary Kom has extended her 10-year-old commercial relationship with IOS Sports & Entertainment.

The sports management firm has been representing Mary Kom exclusively since 2009. During this decade long relationship IOS has been responsible in tying up with more than 25 brands like Herbalife, Emami, Dalmia Cement, Bridgestone Tyres, Tata Salt, P&G, GSK, NECC, Lakshmi Tea, Monnet, Piramal, Artemis Hospital, Manpasand Beverages, Vodafone, ITC, Tourism Thailand Authority, Star India etc.

IOS has also facilitated licensing deal with the Priyanka Chopra-starrer Mary Kom, which was produced by Sanjay Leela Bansali and  ViaCom 18 Motion Pictures. The company has also been the marketing agency for the biopic. IOS also licensed Harper Collins for publishing one of top sports selling book “An Autobiography Unbreakable MC Mary Kom” on the struggle and success of Mary Kom.

Commenting on extending her commercial relationship with IOS, Mary Kom said “In the last 10 years I have only focussed on my game and entire commercial work was perfectly managed by my team IOS. Looking at smooth working with them, I have decided to extend this relationship with them. I would like to continue working hard on my game and want IOS to manage commercial aspect exclusively”.

Welcoming the extension of relationship with Mary Kom, Neerav Tomar, MD & CEO of IOS Sports & Entertainment said “I would like to congratulate Mary on winning her sixth historic world title. We look forward to this extended relationship and hope to establish a stronger brand Mary in the days to come”.

IOS exclusively represents India’s top sport stars of the likes of Vijender Singh, Hima Das, Manika Batra, Mirabai Chanu, Manpreet Singh and Jinson Johnson.

After cricketing empire, Kohli set to dethrone Dhoni on commercial pitch

Virat Kohli has taken the reigns of Indian cricket from Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The 30-year-old Kings of Cricket, with 21 brands studded in his commercial crown, is all set to dethrone his predecessor in the brand world.

Dhoni has earned $ 31 million at the peak of his brand endorsement deals in 2015. Kohli with 21 high-profile brands under his belt is all set to leave that mark behind.

Being the highest profile athlete in the world’s second most populous country, India cricket captain Kohli has built such a formidable brand across the spectrum that even his occasional brash and indiscrete comments fail to tarnish it. Watches, cars, sports shoes, motorbikes, clothes, ride services, tires, snacks, health foods, headphones – even toothbrushes — they have all had the Kohli marketing treatment, states a PTI report.

The 30-year-old cricketer with tattooed arms and coiffured hair currently endorses 21 brands including Tissot, Audi, Puma, Uber and Hero, pushing him into the Forbes’s 2018 list of the world’s 100 highest-paid athletes. Coming in at No. 83 on the back of his estimated $24 million income over the previous 12 months, Kohli at present is the world’s top earning cricketer and comes in ahead of other high-profile athletes such as Novak Djokovic and Sergio Aguero.

It is unlikely he would ever be able to challenge the likes of current Forbes’ No.1 Floyd Mayweather or No. 2 Lionel Messi due to cricket’s appeal being mostly tied to a small batch of predominantly Commonwealth countries.

A prolific scorer of runs, on Sunday he produced a match winning innings to help India to victory over Australia and his performances have ensured he enjoys rock star status in the cricket-mad country of 1.3 billion.

He wed actress Anushka Sharma last year to create a marriage between cricket and Bollywood, India’s two biggest obsessions, helping give him a ‘family man’ image that can appeal to a middle class audience – and harness its spending power. That does not mean he has lost traction with India’s youth.

“The youth of the country – and more than half of India’s population are under 25 – can identify themselves with the man living their dream,” said Kohli biographer Vijay Lokapally.

Kohli has a strong social media presence with over 37 million fans on Facebook and is followed by more than 25 million on Instagram and 27.1 million on Twitter. “He speaks his mind, takes stands, interacts on social media – all of it goes well with his fans,” Lokapally said, describing Kohli as “complete theatre”.

His sponsors have had a bumpy ride at times. When a cricket fan recently described Kohli, the world’s top ranked test batsman, as “overrated” and said he would rather watch Australian and English batsmen than “these Indians”, Kohli responded with both barrels. “You should go and live somewhere else, you know,” he said in a video posted on his personal telephone app, which he uses to interact with fans and sell merchandise.

“Why are you living in our country and loving other countries? I don’t mind you not liking me but I don’t think you should live in our country…” Kohli later said he was “all for freedom of choice” and while the episode burnished his reputation as being touchy about criticism it did little to damage his brand. Quite the opposite, said Tuhin Mishra, managing director of sports marketing firm Baseline Ventures.

“Such frankness can actually boost the brand, provided it aligns with the brand’s message,” said Mishra, whose firm manages other Indian cricketers including Ravindra Jadeja and Prithvi Shaw. “After all, brands also want to be seen as patriotic “Sports and Bollywood stars usually avoid controversies, but fans want their icons to have a voice,” he added.

Cornerstone Sport & Entertainment, the company which represents Kohli, declined to discuss his endorsements and sponsorships.

According to Forbes, $20 million of his total comes from endorsements and $4 million from salary and so-called “winnings”, which would include prize money. Kohli’s earnings could continue to increase thanks to India’s strong growth – it is the fastest growing large economy in the world and that should mean many more marketing dollars – and the obsessive interest in cricket here and across the Indian diaspora.

He has smoothed out some of his rough edges. He does not endorse soft drinks or skin-lightening cream anymore, advocates a healthy lifestyle, and comes across as a family man and a leader. He fights for salary hikes for his players, demands that players’ partners be allowed on tours, and seeks to influence who is appointed team coach.

Mishra of Baseline Ventures said Kohli’s appeal had evolved. “As an aggressive youngster, he was attractive to certain brands then. As married, mature and responsible captain of the team, he is attractive to another set of brands now,” he said.

BARC Ratings: Troubled times for sports genre; depleted cricket tops charts

Sports genre programming on Indian television has taken a big hit even as cricket with depleted numbers continues to top the BARC television ratings chart. The Week 46 (November 10-16) Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) ratings show a massive fall in sports audience in the absence of quality cricket content.

The third and last T20 International between India and West Indies, the only live content involving the Indian cricket team, as the sports genre driver occupies the top five shows position for the week for live Hindi and English broadcast, simulcast on DD Sports and the review shows on DD Sports and Star Sports 1 Hindi respectively. Live broadcast of the match on Star Sports 1 Hindi as the No. 1 show for the week is the only gainer. For the remaining top 5 spots, the significant decline in impressions will leave the broadcaster, sponsors and other stakeholders worried.

The absence of live cricket content, except for the India-Windies T20I has also led to a massive fall in the gross impressions for the top 5 sports channels. Star Sports First, however, made some gains as the free to air space audience bounced back from DD Sports for there being not enough quality cricket.

However, sports is set to make major gains next week on the strength of the first two T20 Internationals on the India’s tour Down Under. The gain now will go to Sony, Cricket Australia’s sole and exclusive media rights holder for the Indian sub-continent.

Star Sports after having dedicated the Hindi movie channel Star Gold and a new campaign with Mahendra Singh Dhoni will be expecting enhanced numbersn for Pro Kabaddi, which has left a lot to be desired by its own standards.

India Australia series : SPNI strikes big with 11 on-air sponsors, 15 on Sony LIV

Sony Pictures Network India has scored it big on the commercial pitch – signing 11 sponsors for TV broadcast and 15 for live streaming on SonyLiv.

The India-Australia series is about to begin. Official and exclusive broadcasters for the series in the Indian sub-continent, Sony Pictures Network India is going all guns blazing in the market to sign sponsors. According to the info received by InsideSport, the network has already signed 11 sponsors for television broadcast and 15 for its digital platform SonyLiv.

According to sources in the industry, SPN is asking for ₹ 6-7 lakh for a 10-second slot for the T20 series, ₹4-5 lakhs for the one-day internationals and is pitching ₹ 1.5 lakh for Test matches packages.

Phone pe, MRF, PERNOD, Byju’s, Swiggy, Philips Lighting, Amazon Prime Video, Kent RO, Allied Blenders, Relaxo and Veedol are the sponsors for the TV braodcast. Quickr, Tropicana, Nescafe, Marico, Xiaomi, Indeed and Netflix are among the live streaming sponsors on SonyLiv.

Talking about the television plans for the series, Rajesh Kaul, Chief Revenue Officer- Distribution & Head – Sports, Sony Pictures Networks India, said, “Cricket is more than just a sport. It is an emotional experience for Indians. Being the one-stop destination for international bilateral series, with rights of eight cricket boards, we are always looking for ways to elevate this experience. The superb line-up of panellists and commentators will give our viewers a holistic perspective on the matches. Along with that, our second screen initiative, Extraaa Innings, will ensure that fans have a more immersive experience during the series.”

On the digital front, Uday Sodhi, EVP-Digital Business Sony Pictures Network, said, “We have signed 15 sponsors so far and are expecting more to come along as the series moves forward. Given that now we are the second largest app, according to AppAnnie, in the ecosystem post FIFA and India-England series, advertisers have great affinity for our app. Numbers have been very strong.”

Sony Pictures Networks India has engaged a host of top Indian and Australian cricketers to present live and analyse the action.The series, with three T20s, four Tests and three ODIs, is highly anticipated by fans across the globe as the clashes between the two leading teams have always been intense.

The broadcaster, to enhance the value of its hottest cricket property for the year, will come with its flagship show Extraaa Innings with a new look and set design featuring an unrivalled set of expert panellists for the series.

This exciting round-up of panellists, providing pre, mid and post-match analyses includes Sunil Gavaskar, Michael Clarke, Harbhajan Singh, Ashish Nehra, Robin Uthappa, Gautam Gambhir, Mark Butcher, Nick Knight, Dominic Cork, Murali Kartik, Sanjay Manjrekar, Mohammad Kaif, Harsha Bhogle, Gaurav Kapur, Deep Dasgupta and Vivek Razdan. The panel of cricketing legends, who will bring their years of experience and expertise to the table, alongside contemporaries who possess a first-hand experience of modern cricket to provide audiences with comprehensive analyses.

FIH World Cup: Manpreet to lead Indian campaign as brand adidas athlete

Manpreet Singh will be an adidas athlete in the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2018, starting in Bhubaneswar on November 28.

The Indian captain has inked the deal to endorse the German footwear and apparel brand adidas. A formal announcement is expected shortly. But, Manpreet has already shot promotion pictures for adidas.

As an adidas athlete, Manpreet will join the elite company of Asian Games champion athletes Hima Das, Swapna Barman and cricket stars Rohit Sharma and Rishab Pant.

Manpreet is striking it big on the onset of big events. Just before the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games earlier this year, Manpreet had dribbled into the elite sportspersons club on Edelwiss’ endorsement roaster.

Adidas is marketing aggressively for a strong hold on Indian athleisure and sports footwear market. The German brand has recently provided customised running shoes to Asian Games medallist heptathlete Swapna, who was also taken to the brand’s Athlete Services Lab in Herzogenaurach, Germany, for the customised footwear analysis.

Also Read: Swapna visits adidas lab in Germany for customised footwear analysis

Adidas is also sponsoring the fast-rising Real Kashmir Football Club, the first football club from the Valley play the Indian national football league – I League.

Earlier this month, Hockey India has named the Olympian and Arjuna Awardee Manpreet to lead the Indian challenge as Bhubaneswar hosts the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup from November 28 to December 16.

Manpreet was first given the reigns of the Indian Hockey team in May last year for the three-Nation Invitational Tournament in Germany and then he also led India to the World League semi-final in England.

Vijender signs up with Bob Arum, set for US debut next year

• Indian boxing star Vijender Singh has signed a multi-year deal with legendary promoter Bob Arum’s company Top Rank, paving the way for his American debut next year after an unbeaten professional run in India and England.

• Vijender, the 2008 Olympic bronze-medallist, has fought all but one of his professional bouts in India and England. He will make his debut under the Top Rank banner in early 2019, his India promoters IOS Boxing said in a statement.

• “Top Rank is very excited to enter into a contract with Vijender,” Arum said in a statement on Monday night here.

• “We intend to make him a big star in the United States and look forward to him participating in major events in India, where he is already a major superstar.”

• Arum is an International Boxing Hall of Famer and has worked with several big names in the circuit, including the likes of Manny Pacquiao.

• Vijender, who has a 10-0 (7 KOs) record in the circuit since turning pro in 2015, said he couldn’t have hoped for a better deal. He has been associated with Queensberry Promotions, owned by Frank Warren, in England.

• “I have always wanted to work with someone who is the best in the business, and I know Top Rank has been the driving force behind boxing’s biggest superstars, including Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather, and Miguel Cotto,” he said.

• “I am eagerly waiting a date for my U.S. debut to take on the world and keep the Indian flag on the world boxing map fluttering high,” he added.

• IOS Boxing’s Neerav Tomar said his company fetched the best for the Indian superstar, whose amateur career has also been path-breaking.

• “…Bob has done so much for professional boxers over the years and has been instrumental in building the careers of so many of the best boxers in the world today. We are honored to be promoted by him,” he said.

• The 33-year-old Vijender was India’s first boxing medallist at the Olympics and also won the country’s maiden world championship medal in 2009. He won a gold at the 2010 Asian Games.

• After turning professional, he captured the WBO Asia Pacific and Oriental super middleweight title.

However, he hasn’t competed this year and his last fight was in December 2017, a 10-round decision against Ghanaian Ernest Amuzu in Jaipur.

Sports Flashes acquires audio rights for the India-Australia series

Sports Flashes, a multi-sports App, has bagged the audio rights for the upcoming India-Australia cricket series for the Indian audience, it was announced on Monday. Sports Flashes will be using the services of well known commentators like Akash Chopra, Simon Katich, Damien Fleming, Reetinder Sodhi and many more, according to a statement.

The live audio feed would be broadcast across the Sports Flashes App & Web Platform besides multiple other platforms including FM Radio, Mobile operator & Digital platforms.

Former cricketer Akash Chopra said: “I am happy to be associated with the Sports Flashes and creating a world class experience for cricket loving fans in my home country. I congratulate team Sports Flashes for the initiative.”

Recently Sports Flashes, a multi-sports app and country’s first online radio channel, has bagged the Board of Control for Cricket in India audio rights for Indian cricket for the global audience. The deal had enable the app to live broadcast Indian cricket home matches around the world on radio. The rights were allotted for five years according to company’s statement. The financials of the deal were not revealed.

Radio Sports Flashes was launched in January 2018 as 24×7 internet radio channel that broadcasts sports content like Live Chat, Commentaries, Talk Shows, Special Sports Programs, Experts Comments, Sports News & Updates, Audio Documentaries, University Sports and Sportainment content.

England’s Oval cricket ground to increase its sitting capacity to 28,000

The Kia Oval, English international cricket venue and the home of county outfit Surrey, has received full planning permission for a project that would see the venue’s capacity increase to 28,000.

The redevelopment of the Lock Laker Stand, which will see the construction of a new three-tier structure, is part of the Oval’s longer-term plans to make the ground the largest in the UK. The club announced its intention to raise the stadium’s capacity to 40,000 in June 2017. Currently, Lord’s has the largest capacity of any cricket venue in the UK.

The Lock Laker Stand renovation is set to begin in October 2019, immediately after the conclusion of the 2019 cricket season, during which the venue will host five matches from the ICC Cricket World Cup. The Oval is also to continue its tradition of hosting the final Ashes Test, with the game to take place from 12th to 16th September.

Additionally, the One Oval Square development next to the ground’s pavilion will also take place, with the revamp set to incorporate additional capacity and facilities, as well as conference, event and hospitality space.

The work is expected to take a year and a half, with construction to be completed before the start of the 2021 season.

Surrey chief executive Richard Gould said: “Receiving planning permission for this new development is fantastic news for the club as we continue to improve all aspects of the Kia Oval. It will add a significant number of extra seats, alongside new facilities to further improve people’s experience when they watch cricket here.

“As evidenced by the thousands of new members joining our club – and the record-breaking number of Ashes tickets sold to members in the last ten days, the demand to watch world class cricket at the Kia Oval has never been stronger.”

English Football League: USD 765 Mn TV Rights deal concluded but clubs cry foul

The English Football League has agreed a controversial new television rights deal with Sky Sports, worth USD 765 Million. The five year deal, which runs from the start of next season until May 2024, is a 35% increase on the previous contract. But a number of the Championship’s larger clubs feel it undervalues how much the rights are worth and will meet on Tuesday to discuss their next move.

Meanwhile The EFL board formally concluded a deal with Sky Sports for its domestic broadcasting rights following a meeting of the Board. Board announced that deal was concluded after thorough deliberation, which included correspondence from Championship Clubs, and in view of all the information available, it determined that it was in the overall best interests of the EFL to sign the five year, USD 765 Million agreement.

The new deal represents a 35% increase on the current arrangement and it will continue to see Sky Sports broadcast live the Sky Bet EFL, Carabao Cup, Checkatrade Trophy and Sky Bet Play-Offs through until May 2024.

Under the new agreement, Sky Sports in each season from 2019/20 will broadcast:

• 138 Sky Bet EFL League matches;
• The 15 Sky Bet EFL Play-Off matches including all three Finals;
• 15 matches from the Carabao Cup including the Final;
• The Semi-Final and Final of the Checkatrade Trophy.

The deal has been designed to maximise both the financial return and exposure for all 72 Member Clubs, the EFL and its competitions. It also ensures that all EFL Clubs are in a position to develop their own Direct to Consumer (DTC) offerings to supporters who reside in the UK and Ireland.

EFL Interim Chair Debbie Jevans CBE commented: “Having fully considered the matter, its implications and any associated risks, the EFL Board is satisfied that the right deal for the EFL and its Clubs has been reached.

“Concluding these negotiations has indeed been challenging, as is the case when managing a diverse group of stakeholders, and the Board took on board the comments and frustrations voiced by a number of Clubs and has committed to reviewing the way the League engages with its Clubs to ensure that we move forward in a collaborative way in the future.  The Board looks forward to continuing the excellent relationship and partnership it has with Sky Sports.”

EFL Chief Executive Shaun Harvey said:  “The deal we have entered into with Sky, after fully testing the current market through our external advisors, allows our Clubs the benefit of financial security which was an absolute priority for us throughout this process. It is a partnership that, as well as having the necessary financial benefits, provides the EFL with the platform to maximise reach and exposure for its competitions, alongside providing further opportunities for Clubs to monetise some of those games not broadcast on television through a DTC offering.”

Barney Francis, Managing Director of Sky Sports added: “We’re delighted to finalise our agreement with the EFL and give certainty to its clubs, their fans and our customers for five more years. By confirming this deal with the EFL, Sky Sports gets even stronger, alongside 128 Premier League games, the home of F1 and English cricket – the rights that matter most to our customers are secure into the next decade.”

 Additional Information:

Deal Commencing 2019/20

Under the new agreement, Sky Sports in each season from 2019/20 will broadcast:

• 138 exclusive Sky Bet EFL League matches, which include:
  • A minimum of 20 Sky Bet League One and League Two matches;
  • 16 Sky Bet Championship games on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings;
  • An additional 8 Sky Bet Championship games on Tuesday or Wednesday evenings that will be broadcast simultaneously with other Sky Bet Championship games
  • The 15 Sky Bet EFL Play-Off matches including all three Finals;
  • 15 matches from the Carabao Cup including the Final;
  • The Semi-Final and Final of the Checkatrade Trophy.

Australia-India Series Live: Sony releases broadcast details

Virat Kohli-led Team India launches their campaign with the T20 International tomorrow (Wednesday) at the Gabba Brisbane. The live and exclusive broadcaster in India Sony Pictures Network have released elaborate plans as Men in Blue tour Down Under for three T20Is, 4 Tests and 3 ODIs over the next two months.

For the year ending high-octane cricket series between India and Australia, Sony Pictures Networks India has engaged a host of top Indian and Australian cricketers to present live and analyse the action.

The series, with three T20s, four Tests and three ODIs, is highly anticipated by fans across the globe as the clashes between the two leading teams have always been intense.

The broadcaster, to enhance the value of its hottest cricket property for the year, will come with its flagship show Extraaa Innings with a new look and set design featuring an unrivalled set of expert panellists for the series.

This exciting round-up of panellists, providing pre, mid and post-match analyses includes Sunil Gavaskar, Michael Clarke, Harbhajan Singh, Ashish Nehra, Robin Uthappa, Gautam Gambhir, Mark Butcher, Nick Knight, Dominic Cork, Murali Kartik, Sanjay Manjrekar, Mohammad Kaif, Harsha Bhogle, Gaurav Kapur, Deep Dasgupta and Vivek Razdan. The panel of cricketing legends, who will bring their years of experience and expertise to the table, alongside contemporaries who possess a first-hand experience of modern cricket to provide audiences with comprehensive analyses.

All the matches will be telecast Live with English and Hindi commentaries to ensure an unparalleled viewing experience for viewers across India.

Following the astounding success of the FIFA World Cup and UEFA Champions League second screen experience, SPN brings back an interactive digital experience for the world’s biggest bilateral series. Viewers watching the series on SPN’s premium OTT platform, SonyLIV, can access “Extraaa Innings” for exclusive content and increased interactivity. The features include a host of predictor games, quizzes, team selector game, trivia, emotion-based selfie filter and stats – all designed to keep the fans engaged. One of the features on “Extraaa Innings”, the “Aggression Meter”, will be displayed on-air during the broadcast through which fans, based on the match, can express their emotional state during the series.

“Cricket is more than just a sport; it is an emotional experience for Indians. Being the one-stop destination for international bilateral series, with rights to eight cricket boards, we are always looking for ways to elevate this experience. The superb line-up of panellists and commentators will give our viewers a holistic perspective on the matches. Along with that, our second screen initiative – Extraaa Innings, will ensure that the fans have a more immersive experience during the series,” said Rajesh Kaul, Chief Revenue Officer Distribution and Head – Sports, Sony Pictures Networks India .

India tour of Australia will be broadcast live on SONY SIX channels with English commentary and on SONY TEN 3 channels with Hindi commentary from November 21, 2018 to January 18, 2019. The T20 series kick-starts on November 21, 2018 and will be telecast from 1:20 PM onwards.

Series Schedule: November 21: 1st T20I, November 23: 2nd T20I, November 25: 3rd T20I.

December 6-10: 1st Test, December 14–18: 2nd Test, December 26–30:  3rd Test, January 3-7: 4th Test.

January 12: 1st ODI, January 15: 2nd ODI and January 18: 3rd ODI

Cricket Australia : Ban sentence of Smith, Warner, Bancroft to stay in full

Cricket Australia has decided that suspension of Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft for their role in the ball tampering scandal will not be lifted. The decision, means Bancroft will see out his nine-month suspension while Warner and Smith will sit on the domestic and international sidelines for a full year.

CA’s seven-person board met via tele-conferencing on Monday and Tuesday to rule on the penalties handed down following the ball tampering controversy in South Africa. The governing body rejected a submission by the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) to either lift the bans altogether or bring the trio back to domestic cricket this summer before their original suspensions had been completed.

This means as decided earlier, Bancroft’s ban will end only in late December, while Smith and Warner will be eligible to return only post March 2019.

Cricket Australia in a statement said that, “CA maintains that both the length and nature of the sanctions remain an appropriate response in light of the considerable impact on the reputation of Australian cricket, here and abroad. We believe the ongoing conversation about reducing the sanctions puts undue pressure on the three players — all of whom accepted the sanctions earlier this year — and the Australian men’s cricket team. As such, the Cricket Australia Board doesn’t intend to consider further calls for amendments to the sanctions.””

Several options were reportedly on the table for the three players after the submission from the ACA following the findings of the Long-staff cultural review. The players’ association argued the review found the ball tampering saga was not just the fault of the players, but also a result of the sport’s win-at-all-costs mentality.

That was the option that most quickly gathered momentum ahead of the CA meetings this week, but was ultimately rejected by the board.