Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Indian board to discuss adding two new teams to IPL

India's cricket board will consider adding two new teams to the popular Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise-based tournament, according to the agenda of the governing body's annual general meeting scheduled to be held later this month.

The IPL, which has an estimated brand value of $6.8 billion, drew record television and digital viewership during its 2020 season amid the turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic.


"Approval on inclusion of two new teams to the Indian Premier League" was listed on the agenda seen by Reuters.

BCCI treasurer Arun Singh Dhumal told Reuters that the AGM will be held at the end of December with Indian media reports saying the date of the meeting has been fixed for Dec. 24.

The IPL currently has eight franchises and its latest edition was held in the United Arab Emirates without fans due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We have been thinking in terms of a 10-team IPL for some time now, and we'd like to have two new teams from 2021, if possible," an IPL governing council member requesting anonymity told Reuters.

Local media has reported in the past that Indian conglomerates Adani Group and RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, which owned the Rising Pune Supergiant franchise for two IPL seasons, have shown interest in buying new teams.

Both companies did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

During the AGM, the BCCI will also discuss its stand on the possible inclusion of cricket in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Cricket featured at the 1900 Olympics and was played in the 1998 Commonwealth Games but has largely been absent from multi-sport events, which critics say has restricted the sport's growth beyond its traditional pockets.

The International Cricket Council, the world governing body of the sport, backs the idea of the sport's inclusion in the Olympics but the BCCI has been reluctant.

The BCCI, considered the world's most powerful and richest cricket board, fears losing its autonomy and being answerable to the country's Olympic committee if cricket joins other sports for the quadrennial Games.

More For You

Archer-Getty

Playing his first Test in over four years, Archer dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal with just his third ball. (Photo: Getty Images)

Bumrah claims five at Lord’s as Archer strikes early on Test return

JOFRA ARCHER made an early breakthrough on his return to Test cricket at Lord’s on Friday, while India captain Shubman Gill was dismissed for a low score on the second day of the third Test.

Playing his first Test in over four years, Archer dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal with just his third ball. Later, Gill, who had scored 585 runs in four innings in the series including three centuries, was caught behind for 16.

Keep ReadingShow less
​Alcaraz

Alcaraz has won 35 of his 38 matches on grass, including 20 in a row at Wimbledon since losing to Sinner in the fourth round in 2022.

Getty Images

Alcaraz beats Fritz to enter third straight Wimbledon final

 

Highlights:

 
     
  • Carlos Alcaraz defeated Taylor Fritz in four sets to reach his third Wimbledon final in a row.
  •  
  • The match was played in extreme heat, with on-court temperatures nearing 32 degrees Celsius.
  •  
  • Alcaraz extended his winning streak to 24 matches, the longest of his career.
  •  
  • He is aiming to become the fifth man in the Open era to win three straight Wimbledon titles.

CARLOS Alcaraz reached his third consecutive Wimbledon final on Friday with a 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (8/6) win over American fifth seed Taylor Fritz.

Keep ReadingShow less
Air India flight crash
Air India's Boeing 787-8 aircraft, operating flight AI-171 to London Gatwick, crashed into a medical hostel complex shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12.
Getty Images

Air India crash probe finds fuel to engines was cut off before impact

Highlights

 
     
  • Fuel to both engines of the Air India flight was cut off seconds before the crash
  •  
  • A pilot was heard questioning the other over the cut-off; both denied initiating it.
  •  
  • The Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, killing 260 people.
  •  
  • Investigators are focusing on fuel switch movement; full analysis may take months.

FUEL control switches to both engines of the Air India flight that crashed shortly after takeoff were moved from the "run" to the "cutoff" position seconds before the crash, according to a preliminary investigation report released early Saturday.

Keep ReadingShow less
Chinese vessel tracked in Bay of Bengal after disabling identification system

The Indian Navy and Coast Guard have consistently reported Chinese research vessel presence. (Representational image: Getty Images)

Chinese vessel tracked in Bay of Bengal after disabling identification system

A Chinese research vessel was detected operating in the Bay of Bengal near Indian waters while attempting to conceal its presence by disabling its Automatic Identification System (AIS), according to a report by The Economic Times, citing French maritime intelligence firm Unseenlabs.

The French company conducted a 16-day satellite-based survey tracking ships through radio frequency emissions. It monitored 1,897 vessels, with 9.6 per cent showing no AIS activity, indicating attempts to avoid detection. The survey raised concerns amid increased Chinese activity in the region.

Keep ReadingShow less