Singapore "is the front-runner" to be the next headquarters of the Int'l Cricket Council. This was revealed by Mustafa Kamal "who will take over as president of the sport's governing body next July" (STRAITS TIMES, 8/28). ... England cricket coach Andy Flower has called on the ICC "to change the regulations regarding bad light after his side narrowly missed out on a dramatic victory in the final Ashes test at the Oval on Sunday." England was "21 runs short of their target with four overs remaining when bad light forced the players off the field" (SOWETAN LIVE, 8/27). ... As the Sepaktakraw World Super Series begins in New Delhi on Thursday, the Indian team "was hit by a controversy on Wednesday with four members being expelled by their state federation for taking part in the tournament without informing it." Akash Singh in the men’s team and Kh Bijeta, Kh Omita and O Chaoba in the women’s team "have been expelled for 10 years" by the All Manipur Sepak Takraw Association for "taking part in the national camp without informing their state unit" (PTI, 8/28).
IN AUSTRALIA: Cricket Australia is "obliged to relinquish" cricketer Shane Watson to his Indian Premier League franchise for next month's A$6M ($5.3M) Champions League "in the first of several obstacles to its home Ashes preparation." Players "who have qualified for more than one team, as Watson and Mitchell Johnson have for Rajasthan and Mumbai, respectively, as well as Big Bash team Brisbane Heat, are obliged to represent the Indian team." The Heat "will receive" A$300,000 in compensation (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 8/29). ... Australian rugby boss Bill Pulver "has backed a proposal" for Australia and New Zealand to form part of a two-conference Super Rugby competition in '16. Pulver said that the plan, being proposed as a way of accommodating South Africa's demand for a permanent sixth team, "was discussed at an Australian Rugby Union board meeting on Tuesday" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 8/29). ... Cricket Australia announced a new initiative for the KFC T20 Big Bash League that will see all teams sign on two players on Community and Development rookie contracts (CA).
