At the BCCI annual general body meeting in Bengaluru, Arun Dhumal and Avishek Dalmiya were re-elected to the IPL governing council. V Chamundeswarnath was nominated by the Indian Cricketers Association (ICA) as a player representative and inducted into the IPL GC. According to a BCCI press release, apart from financial matters like accounts and budget being approved, the General Body also ratified the recommendations of the IPL Governing Council, which included topics like player retention, right to match and salary cap. Although the BCCI did not spell out anything on the restructuring of Duleep Trophy, it has been learnt that state units expressed their reservations about this season’s format, which was competed among four teams - India A, B, C, and D, picked by the national selectors. Next season, the red-ball tournament is likely to return to its traditional format of a zonal competition. The recently-concluded Duleep Trophy was highlighted by the presence of many star Indian players, but the state units were wary of the ‘unfair representation’ of players.
Retired Bravo is KKR’s mentor
As a curtain came down for Dwayne Bravo, another went up almost immediately. As the West Indies legend bid goodbye to cricket as a player, he smoothly transitioned into a mentor. IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) announced that Bravo has joined the franchise as the mentor, stepping into Gautam Gambhir’s shoes. “Today is the day I say goodbye to the game that has given me everything. My mind wants to keep going, but my body can no longer endure the pain, the breakdowns, and the strain. I can’t put myself in a position where I might let down my teammates, my fans, or the teams I represent,” Bravo said.
Wimbledon granted permission for massive expansion
Britain's All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) was granted planning permission by the Greater London Authority for a huge expansion project for the Wimbledon Championships. Plans to transform the adjacent golf course and park with 38 new courts had proved controversial but the AELTC was given the green light at a public hearing at City Hall. The new courts, including an 8,000-seater stadium on the adjacent grounds, will bring qualifying for the grass court Grand Slam on site in line with other majors. “These plans for the site of a former private golf course will bring significant benefits to the local area, the wider capital and the UK economy, providing increased access to open green space and sport, new parkland and a host of new jobs,” Jules Pipe, deputy mayor for planning, regeneration and the fire
service, said.
