India

The Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket side the Rajasthan Royals have appointed former Hampshire player Sean Morris as their new Chief Executive Officer with immediate effect.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is considering inviting rich franchisees from the worlds of business and entertainment to buy its clubs in order to kickstart the growth of football in the cricket-mad country.

Usain Bolt will be the star attraction at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, according to Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi.

The Indian Cricket Board may be forced to reduce the base price for its major sponsorship deal after no companies bid before the November 23 deadline, following a tender released last month.

Indian-based Jaypee Cement has bagged title sponsorship for the three-match test cricket series between India and Sri Lanka in a deal worth $1.3 million.

Entertainment & Sports Direct (ESD), promoted by investment advisory and private equity company DAR Capital Grouphas, has won the theatre rights to the Indian Premier League cricket tournament from 2010-2019. The ten-year deal is worth Rs 330 crore ($71 million).

Sony's Entertainment Television Network's channel SET Max, the official broadcaster of cricket’s Indian Premier League (IPL), is estimated to bring in over Rs 650 crore ($135 million) for the 2010 edition of the competition, 30 per cent higher than in 2009.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) yesterday opened the bidding process for sponsorship rights for India’s four national cricket teams, including the men’s senior team.

Rukin Kizilbash, Indian General Manager of Asian sports broadcaster Ten Sports’ parent company Taj TV, has resigned after seven years with the company.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has come together with other cricket boards in an attempt to fight international piracy.

Neo Cricket, the specialist channel of Indian sports broadcaster Neo Sports, signed six sponsors for the India-Australia seven-match ODI cricket series that began yesterday.

Pay-broadcaster Nimbus is reported to be close to a deal with the BCCI for the television rights for cricket matches played in India.

Suresh Kalmadi, chairman of the organising committee for the 2010 Indian Commonwealth Games, yesterday called for the removal of Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) chief executive Mike Hooper for "obstructing" preparations for the event.

Commonwealth Games Federation chief Mike Fennell has warned Delhi it faces a major challenge to be ready to host next year's games.

Indian motorcycle maker Hero Honda has agreed a deal to title sponsors the India-Australia One Day International cricket series.

The National Basketball Association is to add between 10 and 50 employees in countries including China and India, the league’s commissioner David Stern has said, speaking at a pre-season exhibition game in London.