Nimbus bags TV rights from BCCI for four more years

STAFF WRITER 17:26 HRS IST

Mumbai, Oct 20 (PTI) Nimbus Communications has bagged the broadcast rights from the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) for the four years, starting April 2010, for Rs 2000 crore.

Nimbus are the existing right holders for which they had paid the Board USD 612 million and the deal comes to a close next March.

As per the deal, finalised by the BCCI's marketing committee that met today, Nimbus would be paying Rs 31.5 crore per international match - ODI, T20 or Test, according to sources.

The committee also decided to float fresh tenders for the team sponsorship rights that's currently with Sahara, the sources added.

Abhijeet and Rahul share lead at Chandigarh Open

STAFF WRITER 16:57 HRS IST

Chandigarh, Oct 20 (PTI) Local lad Abhijeet Chadha and Noida's Rahul Bajaj returned identical even-par 72 cards to share the lead after the opening round of the Chandigarh Open here today.

Just one shot behind the leaders were Tarundeep Chadha and last year's runner-up Vikram Rana.

Further a stroke behind were Chandigarh's Angad Cheema and Akshay Sharma, and Kapurthala's Imamul Haque as they returned a matching two-over 74 card at Chandigarh Gold Club.

"The greens are just not up to the mark and that was causing a lot of problems. Considering the wind and the unpredictable greens, I think even par is a good round out here this week," said Abhijeet.

Patel elected as AIFF pres, Dasmunsi honorary pres

STAFF WRITER 19:25 HRS IST

New Delhi, Oct 20 (PTI) Union Minister Praful Patel was today formally elected as the president of the All India Football Federation, thus bringing curtains to ailing Priyan Ranjan Dasmunsi 20-year reign as the head of the AIFF.

Patel, the civil aviation minister in the UPA government at the centre, was elected to the top post unopposed at the Annual General Body meeting of the AIFF at its headquarters here.

Patel was working as acting president of the AIFF since Dasmunsi suffered a cardiac arrest last October.

"I really thank everyone for the support that you have offered to me and I hope we all will work together for the upliftment and development of the game in the country," Patel said in a statement issued by the AIFF.

Dasmunsi held the post of AIFF president since 1988 before encountering the heart-attack, which made him bed-ridden.