Star bags Ind home series rights
mumbai: Broadcasting giants Star India on Thursday bagged the media rights of Indian cricket team's bilateral home series as well as domestic cricket for a record Global Consolidated Rights (GCR) bid of Rs 6138.1 crore ($ 944 million approx) for a period of next five years, till 2023. With the India home cricket rights, Star now has a virtual monopoly in the cricket broadcasting world having bagged the IPl rights for a record Rs 16,347 crore ($ 2.55 billion) bid. They also own the rights for all ICC Tournaments (men's and women's 50-over World Cup, World T20). The GCR comprise TV broadcast rights as well as digital rights for the Indian sub continent as well as the Rest of the World (RoW). The bidding went for three days with the first day ending at Rs 4442 crore while on Wednesday, it breached the Rs 6000 crore mark.
Rabada ruled out of IPl
new delhi: South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada was on Thursday ruled out of the soon-to-start Indian Premier league (IPl) due to a lower back injury, which may keep him out of action for three months. Rabada, who was to play for Delhi Daredevils, felt tightness and discomfort during the fourth Test against Australia in Johannesburg with subsequent scans revealing the injury. Commenting on the injury, Proteas team manager Mohammed Moosajee said: "Kagiso has been diagnosed with a lower back stress reaction which will rule him out of cricket action for up to three months." He is not the first star pacer to have been ruled out of the IPl. Australia's Mitchell Starc too will miss the IPl for KKR due to a "tibial bone stress in his right leg".
Rohit, Mahela hail DRS
mumbai: Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma and chief coach Mahela Jayawardene on Thursday hailed the introduction of the DRS and a mid-season transfer window at this season of the IPl. A provision has been made for a short transfer window midway through the campaign for uncapped players and those who have played no more than two matches till the halfway stage of the tournament. "This is the evolution for the franchise model going forward. It's a great option. The opportunity is there and it's quite new to all franchises to go through the season half-way and discuss how best we can address that," said Jayawardene. "The mid-season transfer window will give the teams an opportunity to see what they need in the squad and other teams will also be looking at what players they can get. It depends on the franchise if a situation comes when we need to get a player or give a player. It is good for the tournament and will add even more value to the tournament," said Rohit.
World record beacons Paes
mumbai: Veteran leander Paes will make yet another attempt to create the Davis Cup record for the most doubles win as India clash with China in their den in "brutal" cold conditions for a place in the World Group Play-offs, starting here from Friday. The 44-year-old Paes is tied on 42 wins with Italian great Nicola Pietrangeli and one more win will make him the most successful doubles player in the history of Davis Cup. The tie will be fought in a new two-day format where best of three set matches will be played instead of best of five. Ramkumar will open India's campaign against Yibing and Nagal will take on Zhang on Friday. While, Paes and Bopanna will clash with Di Wu and Mao-Xin Gong and the doubles will be followed by reverse singles on Saturday.