A new int'l T20 cricket league organized in partnership with the Emirates Cricket Board will take place over 24 days in December and January. The tournament will take place in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, with five new franchise teams participating. The event is sanctioned by the Int'l Cricket Council (ARABIAN BUSINESS, 6/4).
The Indian Competition Commission ordered a detailed investigation against the BCCI for "alleged abuse of dominant position with regard to running professional domestic cricket leagues in the country." The decision was made following a complaint filed by Pan India Infraprojects. In a 14-page order, dated June 1, the commission said that there is "prima-facie" a case of abuse of dominant position by the BCCI which is in violation of competition norms (PTI, 6/5).
The Australian Football League will reintroduce a four-umpire system on a trial basis for all games during rounds 13 and 14 later this month "in a bid to keep senior umpires in the game longer." AFL GM of Football Operations Steve Hocking said that the experiment "could result in four field umpires, an increase on the current three, being introduced on a permanent basis from next year." Hocking: "We are going to innovate and try and gather as much data as we possibly can to influence decision making" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 6/6).
The Pakistan Boxing Federation categorically denied that it has not given permission for any boxing league and it will "hold its own league very soon." The PBF said that it has "neither officially or informally received any request by any individual or organization to conduct a national or international boxing league" (DAWN, 6/5).
