BCCI to get lion’s share

Calcutta/Dubai: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will be the greatest beneficiary with 50 per cent of the amount going to its coffers after the three founding members of the Champions Twenty20 League — the BCCI, Cricket Australia and Cricket South Africa — inked a $975 million television rights deal with ESPN-STAR, says A Staff Reporter.

According to media reports from Dubai, the three members will share the 10-year deal amount with India getting half of it and CA and CSA pocketing 25 per cent each.
Meanwhile, the Indian Premier League (IPL) commissioner and BCCI vice-president Lalit Modi has been appointed the chairman of the board of Champions League Twenty20.

Sourav Ganguly inaugurates

Siliguri: Sourav Ganguly inaugurated the floodlight facilities here at the Agragami Cricket Coaching Centre on Friday, says A Staff Reporter.

“I’m happy that the players of Siliguri will now be able to practise under the lights. I’d expect the promising cricketers to try and play for India, because that is the ultimate goal,” Sourav said.

Devang Gandhi, the former Test cricketer, promised that he will visit the camp once in a month. Minister Asok Bhattacharjee and singer Abhijit were also present at the function.

Ryder recalled

Wellington: Jesse Ryder has been recalled to the New Zealand squad for next month’s tour of Bangladesh.

THE SQUAD
Daniel Vettori (captain), Grant Elliott, Daniel Flynn, Gareth Hopkins, Jamie How, Chris Martin, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor. Aaron Redmond (Tests only), Iain O'Brien (Tests only), Scott Styris (ODIs only), Mark Gillespie (ODIs only).

Raju to coach

Calcutta: The Orissa Cricket Association (OCA) has roped in former India left-arm spinner Venkatapathy Raju as their chief coach for the 2008-09 season.

Bindra praise

New Delhi: Abhinav Bindra described Naresh Sharma, who finished fifth in the 50m Free Rifle Prone shooting at the Paralympic Games in Beijing, “very inspiring” but rued the lack of coverage to the event by the Indian media. “This is a very creditable performance. My congratulations to Naresh. I wish him all the luck for the future,” Bindra said.

Atwal tied 2nd

Boise (US): Arjun Atwal returned a sizzling bogey-free card of five-under 66 to share a tied second position with five others after the opening round of the Albertsons Boise Open.

Humpy out

Nalchik (Russia): Koneru Humpy bowed out of the World Women’s Chess Championship, succumbing to 14-year old Yifan Hao of China.