The Board of Control for Cricket in India decided to appeal in court against the arbitration order passed in favor of terminated Indian Premier League franchise Kochi Tuskers early this year on the grounds that the arbitrator "had gone beyond the scope of the franchise agreement." The BCCI has "already approached the Bombay High Court and the matter is likely to come up for hearing in the next few days." In the June 15 ruling, the arbitrator, former India Chief Justice RC Lahoti, ordered the BCCI to pay Kochi Tuskers a total sum of Rs 384.83 crore ($58M) "in lieu of special and general damages incurred" along with 18% annual interest for four years, return the Rs 153 crore ($23M) bank guarantee to Rendezvous Sports World and pay an additional Rs 72 lakh ($109,000) for the legal fees incurred (TIMES OF INDIA, 11/18). ... Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif wants cricket between Pakistan and India "despite prevailing tensions between the two neighbors." Sharif is an "ardent fan of cricket." Vetoing a series between the two countries can "never be a desired decision for him." A PM aid said, "The decision to bind Pakistan Cricket Board to seek permission for series with India is because there are no positive signals from India. Shiv Sena is promoting hatred and Sharif is concerned about the players' safety" (NDTV SPORTS, 11/18). ... The group of "disaffected black African cricketers and administrators who raised their concerns in a letter to Cricket South Africa last week want clear direction from the game's local governing body." They raised, among other concerns, the selection of black African players in the national team and "sought to have a meeting" with CSA President Chris Nenzani and CEO Haroon Lorgat once they returned from India. A source said that black African players "needed to know where they stood within CSA's selection policy framework" (TIMES LIVE, 11/18).
