By Nick Harris 17 February 2010 The Indian government today reacted bullishly to terrorist threats against the forthcoming hockey World Cup, the 2010 IPL season and the Commonwealth Games by promising to provide “full protection” to every player, coach and official involved. In addition, the Delhi police have claimed that “foolproof” security arrangements are in place. India suffered its latest terrorist attack on Saturday when a bakery in Pune was bombed. The death toll, which includes two foreigners, rose to 11 today after a student from Delhi died from injuries sustained in the blast. Another 60 people were injured. A hitherto unknown group...

By Nick Harris 16 February 2010 The identity of the Premier League football club that has expressed an interest in buying an Indian Premier League cricket franchise will be revealed when the tender process opens next month according to a BBC report, although the IPL's commissioner, Lalit Modi, has told sportingintelligence by email this afternoon that the "fruit in the pudding" (the "proof of the pudding" of the story) will be "on bidding day". Modi says: "We have had over 30 people evince interest within the first few weeks of announcing the sale of the two teams. For now I can tell you that...

15 February The Premier League is considering introducing a play-off to determine which team is awarded the fourth Champions League slot. As things stand, the top four in the division qualify automatically for the next season's Champions League. No changes will be made for at least three years: the 2010-13 TV rights have already been sold, and an extra five matches (play-off semi-finals over two legs, plus the final) would alter the nature of any TV deals. A number of other changes are thought to be under consideration, although none as radical as the so-called 39th game, mooted two years ago then...