The "internal turmoil within Irish boxing looks set to escalate" in the wake of an announcement by the Irish Athletic Boxing Association's board of directors that it will adopt a new rulebook "without consulting the IABA's membership." The board, headed by president Joe Christle, issued a 1,500-word statement in which it "repudiated many of the claims" made in a letter which the association's elected president, Pat Ryan, sent to Christle last week. While Sport Ireland recognizes Christle as president of the board of directors, "this is disputed by the association's Central Council," which claims that Waterford's David O'Brien was elected as Christle's successor last March. The "significance of the new rule book is that it includes changes" to the rules of the IABA which, if passed, would give "full authority over team selection" to newly-appointed High Performance Dir Bernard Dunne (IRISH INDEPENDENT, 6/10).
India "cannot have a bilateral cricket series with Pakistan" as it has crossed the "Lakshmana Rekha" by sponsoring terrorism in the country, Indian Sports Minister Vijay Goel said on Saturday. Goel: "For everything there is a Lakshmana Rekha. But when the line is crossed then a message has to be given" (PTI, 6/10).
Starting in '17-18, local cricket associations around Australia "will commence rolling out" new junior formats, meaning U11 (now known as Stage 1) will field seven players in a team, play on a 16m pitch to "cut down on wides and no balls; have a shorter boundary and each player will bat and bowl." Those in the U13 (Stage 2) format will play in teams of nine, use an 18m pitch, have a shorter boundary and see every player bat and bowl (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 6/11).
