Former Indian cricket captain ANIL KUMBLE will be the next chair of the Int'l Cricket Council Technical Committee. The "much-feted legend" succeeds former West Indies captain CLIVE LLOYD. The decision was taken in the exec committee meeting held in Colombo, Sri Lanka on Tuesday. Kumble is also the Karnataka State Cricket Association President and a mentor of Indian Premier League team Royal Challenger Bangalore. A source said: "Kumble's name was always on the cards because of his wealth of experience. He was [the Board of Control for Cricket in India's] choice, and he plays important roles in the cricket affairs in his state and country" (TNN, 10/11). ICC President ALAN ISAAC said, "In Anil Kumble, we have a new chairman who has unquestioned experience, not only as a player with India, but also as an administrator with Karnataka State Cricket Association as well.” According to ICC sources, Kumble "has been given a two-year term." The Cricket Committee meets twice a year, and the second meeting of the year is likely to be held in November (PTI, 10/11). Meanwhile, Former England captain ANDREW STRAUSS has been appointed to the ICC's cricket committee. Strauss, who retired in August, replaces West Indian IAN BISHOP, who opted not to continue in the role (BBC, 10/11).
MORE TRANSACTIONS: Greece Super League football club AEK Athens "appointed EWALD LIENEN as its new head coach." The 58-year-old German signed a deal until June 30 with the option for another year (DPA, 10/10). ... UAE football club Ittihad Kalba has named Tunisian LOTFI BENZARTI as coach "after parting ways" with Croatian DRAGAN TALAJIC earlier this week. Benzarti spent last season at Emirates club (THE NATIONAL, 10/10).
... Former England rugby captain BILL BEAUMONT has been elected chairman of the Six Nations Council. Beaumont succeeds DAVID PICKERING of Wales, and “his three-year term of office begins immediately.” Beaumont previously lost out to France’s BERNARD LAPASSET in his bid to become Int’l Rugby Board president. Also added to the Six Nations Council was PAT WHELAN as vice chairman, “with immediate effect,” as well (AFP, 10/11). ... Kickboxing promotion company Glory Sports Int’l appointed sports business professional GRAEME WHITE as COO of professional kickboxing league Glory World Series. Based in Singapore, White will report to Glory Managing Dir MARCUS LUER. Most recently, White played an integral role in building the Roots of Fight brand of mini-doc films and licensed apparel that includes names such as MUHAMMAD ALI, BRUCE LEE and the Gracie family, who is best-known for their founding of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (Glory Sports Int’l).
GROWING IN INDIA: Former top Fox Sports exec ED GOREN has been named director of strategic alliances as a board member for the Elite Football League of India. Goren said, "My intention is to help the EFLI become one of the most recognizable brands in India's young, vibrant and growing sports industry. The American football league has added Goren to a list of talent that includes SANDY GROSSMAN, Eight-time Emmy Award Winning TV director; MARK WAHLBERG, Time Magazine's top 100 most influential people in the the world; KURT and BRENDA WARNER, philanthropists and TV personality; MIKE DITKA, MICHAEL IRVIN and RON JAWORSKI (former NFL players and TV personalities); BRANDON CHILLAR, Indian athlete and former NFL player; GIBRAN HAMDEN, first professional Pakistani NFL player (EFLI).
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