Exclusive: English cricket chiefs rethink plans to relax Covid rules during The Hundred after one-day squad debacle highlights surge in risk July 7, 2021 English cricket chiefs have shelved plans to relax Covid-19 protocols around The Hundred, its new domestic competition, amid rising cases. The challenges facing sport were highlighted this week when England’s entire one-day squad was forced into isolation following an outbreak on the eve of their series with Pakistan. That came after the strict Covid rules [...]
Skittled: England to pick new ODI cricket squad after host of Covid positives July 6, 2021 England will be forced to name an entirely new 50-over side for their series with Pakistan after three players and four staff members tested positive for Covid-19. The squad will be captained by Ben Stokes, who was intended to be rested, and will be named later today. Read more: Boris Johnson says ECB should not [...]
Sport sees steep fall in gambling sponsorship as government considers ban and demand grows for social responsibility, says new study July 3, 2021 Gambling sponsorship in sport has fallen sharply ahead of a possible ban, a new report has found. The number of betting companies sponsoring sports teams in England has almost halved since 2019, according to the study by consultancy Caytoo. Gambling’s share of the market has dropped from 15.3 per cent to 8.1 per cent and [...]
Liverpool shareholders RedBird Capital set to buy stake in Indian Premier League franchise Rajasthan Royals June 24, 2021 RedBird Capital Partners, a shareholder in Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group, is buying a stake in Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket franchise Rajasthan Royals, according to reports. New York-based RedBird is buying 15 per cent of the Royals in a deal that values the team at $250m, says the FT. The transaction continues the trends [...]
Week in Sportbiz: Ukraine told to change Russia-baiting Euro 2020 kit; Germany muscles in on London NFL patch; beIN and Channel 4 bag rights deals June 10, 2021 Euro 2020 may not have started yet but it has already kicked off between Ukraine and Russia. Ukraine tweaked the nose of Russia earlier this week when it revealed a Moscow-baiting new football kit, to be worn at Euro 2020. The yellow shirt features a map of Ukraine that includes Crimea, which Russia annexed in [...]
Chris Tremlett: England should ditch negativity and return to more positive approach in second Test with New Zealand June 9, 2021 England were accused of passing up the chance to win the first Test of an important summer against New Zealand last weekend. And I can understand why. New Zealand made a brave declaration, and England’s target of 273 from 75 overs on a good wicket looked achievable. I was surprised that England didn’t chase hard [...]
Report: Festivals risk losing another summer unless government support kicks in May 29, 2021 Music festivals are looking at another ‘lost summer’, a report has said today, due to the lack of government plans to back insurance for events at risk of cancellation due to Covid-19. The report, by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) committee, calls on ministers to offer a safety net for live [...]
Crowd pleasers: England cricket test match and Royal Ascot picked for next fan pilot May 26, 2021 Thousands of fans will be able to attend an England cricket test match and Royal Ascot this summer as part of the next stage of the government’s pilot programme for major events. The second test of the men’s series against New Zealand, beginning on 10 June at Edgbaston, will be allowed to welcome more than [...]
IG signs up to sponsor England cricket teams in three-year deal May 26, 2021 City of London firm IG has signed a three-year deal to sponsor England’s cricket teams. The contract with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will see the online trading specialist support the men’s and women’s national teams. It will also mean IG branding appearing on the men’s shirt in Test, one-day and Twenty20 cricket. [...]
Week in Sportbiz: Bitcoin plunge hits chess grandmasters; ‘Stamford Beach’ stunt recalls Chelsea row; and Hundred teams get new spinners May 20, 2021 When is a $100,000 bonus not worth $100,000? That is a conundrum for the chess grandmasters taking part in the FTX Crypto Cup. The tournament, which features world champion Magnus Carlsen and starts this weekend, is offering a $320,000 prize to the winner – a record for an online chess event. But $100,000 of that [...]