The Indian Supreme Court on Monday made it clear that all state cricket associations have to "fall in line" with recommendations of Justice R.M. Lodha led-panel on structural reforms in the Board of Control for Cricket in India "which was carried out in the wake of match-fixing and spot-fixing allegations." A bench, headed by Lodha, said, "Once BCCI is reformed it will go down the line and all cricket associations will have to reform itself if they want to associate with it. The committee constituted in wake of match-fixing and spot-fixing allegations was a serious exercise and not futile exercise." The bench also said that the recommendations of reforms at BCCI were made by a committee of experts with "extensive deliberations" with the stakeholders. The bench said, "It will no longer remain just recommendations if we say it has to be implemented" (TIMES OF INDIA, 5/2).
COMPULSORY HELMETS: The review into the death of Phillip Hughes will see Australian cricket "follow England’s lead and make helmets compulsory for batsmen -- a move backed by veteran Chris Rogers, who sustained two severe blows in recent seasons." Cricket Australia last May "commissioned an independent report into the circumstances surrounding Hughes’ death." It is understood to recommend "mandatory helmet use." At the moment "it is not compulsory for batsmen to wear helmets but if they do, they must meet new British safety standards" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 4/30).
LEAGUE BRIEFS ...
MotoGP organizers have announced that the "selection process for filling the vacant 24th slot on the grid has been delayed" until after the '17 season. It was announced in March that "series bosses would welcome an additional one-bike entry next season." Three squads are applying for consideration. The three teams in question are Pons Racing, Forward Racing and Technomag (Car Xpert Interwetten). However, due to "reluctance" among the manufacturers to make an extra bike available, "it has been decided to keep the 24th grid slot vacant for another season" (MOTORSPORT, 5/2).
Six New Zealand-based rugby league players have reportedly been banned from int'l matches "after revelations of prescription drug abuse on a night out." Three players from National Rugby League side New Zealand Warriors were "ruled out of selection for New Zealand's national Kiwis team for Friday's test against Australia in Newcastle." The Warriors "also banned three players from being selected for Pacific nation test matches in Sydney on the weekend" (REUTERS, 5/2).
