Alan Isaac wants IPL window in FTP

Alan Isaac, the candidate who replaced John Howard as Australia and New Zealand's nominee for the ICC vice-presidency, has supported the creation of a window in the Future Tour Programme for the IPL. The ICC had earlier ruled out accommodating lucrative Twenty20 leagues in the already cramped international calendar, but Isaac said that was likely to change as the ICC's sub-committee is working on remodelling the FTP.''The Future Tours Program has to allow the IPL, because unless it is accommodated we will end up with more challenges,'' Isaac told the Sydney Morning Herald. ''There will be more pressure put around the scheduling of ICC events [such as World Cups and the Champions Trophy], and those ICC events are so critical to members because of the revenue generated. "It has to be worked into the Future Tours Program because there is a demand and an interest. The players seem to like it, and there is more money coming into the game. 'The sub-committee work is being done on that basis [that the IPL will be part of the FTP].''Isaac, the New Zealand Cricket chairman, replaced former Australia prime minister John Howard as the ICC vice-president nominee following Cricket Australia's refusal to choose another candidate. Howard's nomination was blocked last month in Singapore by members from six countries. After being told by the ICC board to find another option by August 31, New Zealand asked Sir John Anderson, the country's original recommendation, to reconsider. When Anderson refused Isaac, 58, stepped forward.Isaac said Anderson's decision to decline contesting was unexpected. ''He shocked me when he said he wasn't available, then encouraged me to make myself available,'' Isaac said. ''That was the first time I started thinking about the role. I don't see myself as second or third choice, ultimately I will be judged on the work that is done.''Isaac conceded that the ICC has had its share of criticism on the way it works and how certain powerful members like India have got their way. He said India have a very significant role to play in the game's governing body in terms of the revenue they generate.''I think one of the most important things is that we work to enhance the reputation of the ICC,'' Isaac said. ''The media are quite critical of it, sometimes justifiably, and lots of decisions it makes get criticised. Each member around the table has got their own issues and agendas, I understand that, it is about leading everyone in a common direction.''There is no doubt [India] are powerful, that is a matter of fact. When the ICC sells its commercial rights a lot of that comes from India, that is the commercial reality and we have got to recognise that. The Indian officials I have dealt with in my 20 months at the ICC have been really good to work with, there are no issues at all.''

Recovering Hauritz hopes for India tour

The injured Nathan Hauritz is walking freely again but is unsure whether he will be fit for Australia's two-Test series in India in October. Hauritz wore a moon boot for three weeks to help the recovery from a foot stress problem that sent him home during the limited-overs tour of the British Isles.Steven Smith replaced Hauritz for the two Tests against Pakistan, but Hauritz remains Australia's No.1 in the five-day game whenever he is healthy. "I would love to be saying I am fully fit and ready for India and there is still seven weeks to go before we leave," Hauritz said in The Sunday Mail. "But I will have to prove my fitness before then and we will not get a good gauge until we step up the training in a couple of weeks." Hauritz has had a four-week break but running will be the big test. "I will start 40 to 50-minute walks this week and will start jogging on it pretty soon after that," he said. The injury had been bothering Hauritz, but it was not until he was batting in the ODIs against England that it became bad enough to leave the trip. If he had continued it could have developed into a serious stress fracture. "We were lucky to pick it up when we did, otherwise it could have been three to four months out not doing anything," he said. Australia's first Test against India is on October 1 in Mohali and the series is a warm up for the Ashes, which begin in November.

BCCI negotiating with Nimbus for production rights

The BCCI has entered into negotiations with Nimbus Sport for the television production rights for cricket played in India until 2014. The period covers about 350 domestic matches and 60 international matches. Nimbus, which owns the India broadcast rights until 2014, is the current holder of the production rights. The board had invited bids between July 23 and July 30 on payment of Rs 5 lakhs (about US$10,800) for the bid document. All the bids were opened at the BCCI working committee meeting held in Mumbai today and Cricinfo has learned Nimbus submitted the lowest bid. Subsequently, the committee "authorised the BCCI president to negotiate the deal," according to a broadcasting official with knowledge of the situation. The deal is expected to be completed in the next two or three days. At the meeting, the working committee also turned down a request from India's Commonwealth Games Committee to be its lead sponsor. "The Committee expressed its inability to agree to the request of the Commonwealth Games to be the lead partner by donating Rs. 100 crores (about $22 million)," the board said in a press release. The Indian Olympic Association President, Suresh Kalmadi, had complained about the board's decision to schedule Australia's tour of India at the same time as the event, and asked for a donation to help ensure the Commonwealth Games would be a success. The BCCI has come to the aid of sporting federations in the past, most recently giving the All India Football Federation a two-year grant of Rs 25 crores (about $ 5.5. million) in 2009 to develop the sport in the country.In light of the resolution of the WADA anti-doping issue, the board voted to seek the appointment of Dr Vece Paes, a former Olympian and father of Indian tennis player Leander Paes, a 12-time doubles Grand Slam champion, to be its anti-doping officer. According to the release, the details of Paes' appointment are still to be worked out. The Board also agreed to give the Mumbai Cricket Association and the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association grants of Rs 20 crores (about $ 4.4 million) and Rs 25 crores (about $5.5. million) respectively for renovating stadiums, according to PTI.