India

Lalit Modi yesterday carried out his threat of legal action against Giles Clarke, chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, by commencing libel proceedings in the High Court.

Neo Cricket has sold 80 per cent of its inventory for cricket's Asia Cup, which starts today in Sri Lanka, and is targetting revenues of Rs 1 billion ($21.5 million).

Private Indian companies will be handed control, including over any revenue they can generate, of the venues for the Commonwealth Games once the event is over.

The Olympic Council of Asia has reacted angrily to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)’s decision not to send a team to this year's Asian Games in China. Olympic Council of Asia secretary general Randhir Singh said it is a "setback" for the future of cricket in the region.

Sahara India beat off competition from Bharti Airtel to continue sponsoring the Indian cricket team until December 2013, the Board of Control for Cricket in India announced yesterday.

Mehmood Abdi, lawyer for suspended Indian Premier League chairman Lalit Modi, said his client’s reply to allegations of wrong-doing should see him reinstated immediately.

Bollywood producers organising the opening ceremony of this year's Commonwealth Games in Delhi have reacted angrily to a plan to move the start time for the event forward to suit Australian broadcasters.

Indian Premier League chairman Lalit Modi and sports marketing company IMG have threatened legal action over claims by England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Giles Clarke that Modi encouraged English county teams to form a breakaway competition.

Cricket is beginning to draw a younger and wider demographic of fans, including more women, according to research by Sport+Markt.

Lalit Modi has been suspended from all his posts in Indian cricket, including chairman of the Indian Premier League, by the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

Indian Premier League commissioner Lalit Modi is likely to quit after the tournament final this weekend, following an Indian government probe into the funding of the competition.

Fresh Indian security fears have caused the semi-finals of the 2010 Indian Premier League to be moved to the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai following two low-intensity blasts at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore on Saturday evening.

The 2011 Formula One calendar will be the biggest ever, with 20 races, after Bernie Ecclestone confirmed the addition of an Indian Grand Prix, and the continuing participation of the Turkish and Chinese Grands Prix.

The NBA has topped a list of leagues ranked by average pay at their teams, which threw up some surprising results including a second-place appearance for the Indian Premier League cricket competition, the Premier League only making fourth place, and the NFL only coming sixth.

Lalit Modi, commissioner of the Indian Premier League, has estimated an almost one hundred per centyear-on-year increase in revenue for the Twenty20 tournament.

Sahara Group and Rendezvous Sports World won the rights to own the two new Indian Premier League franchises for a combined $703 million, more than the cost of the eight original franchises combined.