MUMBAI: Concerned about Test matches being "postponed" to accommodate other formats, the ICC Cricket Committee has recommended that a team?s failure to play a minimum number of five-day games over a four-year period should lead to the withdrawal of its Test status.

Chaired for the first time by former India captain Anil Kumble, who takes over from former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd, the committee met in Dubai on Thursday.

"Noting the examples during the year where Test matches had been postponed to make room for other formats of the game, the committee recommended that all Test playing members should be required to play a minimum number of Test matches over a four-year period in order to maintain their Test status," the ICC said in a statement.

The committee reiterated its support for the strategy of ensuring an "optimum balance and a clear differentiation between the three formats of the game".

It also noted the need to ensure that Test cricket, in particular, was protected.

"The Committee also supported the concept of a Test play-off event as the climax to a qualification period of bilateral FTP matches with the ICC Reliance Test Rankings being used to determine the qualifiers for this event," the release stated.

Among other issues, the committee discussed the impact of changes made to the one-day playing conditions.

"The committee reviewed the impact of the recent changes to the standard ODI playing conditions, namely the restriction of four fieldsmen being allowed outside the circle during non-powerplay overs, the introduction of two bouncers per over, the abolishment of the bowling powerplay and the introduction of two new balls."

MUMBAI: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has extended the deadline for companies to submit bids to buy two new I-League clubs ahead of the next season to 15 May.

Six companies so far have bought the request for proposal (RFP) document. They are GMR Group which already owns an Indian Premier League (IPL) team, UAE-based Indian company Dodsal Group, Jindal Steel, Eagles FC, Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services and Trans Stadia.
 
The AIFF was in Dubai last month to hold a meeting for potential investors. IMG Reliance has the marketing and commercial rights for the AIFF.

MUMBAI: Percept Live?s one of the most happening property Sunburn has announced its entry into the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The UAE will be hosting the first Sunburn Arena tour in Dubai featuring Tiesto.

The UAE foray marks the third international expansion undertaken by the Indian music and lifestyle festival brand in less than a year. Sunburn has previously organised festivals in Sri Lanka and participated in the International Music Summit, Ibiza, being the first Indian brand to feature in a global music apex.

Percept joint managing director Shailendra Singh said, ?The international expansion of Sunburn continues to be a big focus for the company. The brand is already Asia?s most aspiring music and lifestyle brand. We genuinely believe Sunburn is more than just a music festival or lifestyle brand, it?s a social movement without boundaries and we want to take the Sunburn experience to as many countries as possible. Percept is very pruod to create India?s most exciting glocal brand, produced locally and now, consumed globally.?
 
The company further plans to expand Sunburn to Singapore, Thailand and Mexico.

In India the brand has introduced a number of different formats such as Sunburn Goa festival, Sunburn Superstar, Sunburn Arena and Sunburn Campus Tours to reach out to young Electronic dance music (EDM) fans across the country.

MUMBAI: Broadcasters from across Middle East and Africa have snapped up a number of the latest top dramas at BBC Worldwide Showcase 2013.

The four-day event plays host to over 700 TV buyers including IBA, Yes and Al Jazeera from the Middle East and Africa?s MNet. Between them the networks have licensed ?The Paradise?, ?Call the Midwife?, ?Da Vinci?s Demons?, ?Top of the Lake? and ?Ripper Street? amongt others.

Israel broadcaster IBA has picked up two key Showcase titles, ?The Paradise?, starring Elaine Cassidy and Emun Elliott and ?Call the Midwife? (series one). IBA has also licensed a number of David Attenborough natural history titles including ?Attenborough: 60 Years in the Wild? and ?Attenborough?s Giant Egg?.

Also in Israel, Yes DBS has concluded a drama package that leads with the eagerly awaited ?Da Vinci?s Demons?, written by David S. Goyer and starring Tom Riley and Laura Haddock, based on the genius? early years in Renaissance Italy. This follows BBC Worldwide?s sale of the eight-part series to Fox International Channels announced in August last year. Other series in the deal include ?The Fear? and ?The Secret of Crickley Hall? as well as a documentary package for titles such as ?Addicted to Tattoos?, ?Eat, Fast and Live Longer? and ?Junior Doctors? (series two).

In a drama double, BBC Worldwide has licensed both ?Ripper Street? and ?Top of the Lake?, to MNet for South African territory premieres.

?Doctor Who? (Series 5, 6, 7) will premiere on Al Jazeera?s children?s channel. Meanwhile Al Jazeera Documentary Channel has bought 200 hours of documentary, current affairs, science and natural history programming including ?Attenborough?s Giant Egg?, ?India on Four Wheels?, ?Panorama: Poor America?, ?Panorama: Price Tag Wars?, ?Transit of Venus? and ?True Stories? (series 2-4).

Elsewhere, OSN Dubai has acquired the latest series of ?Top Gear? (S19) and ?Top Gear USA? (S3), securing the exclusive first window in the Middle East territories.

BBC Worldwide territory manager Middle East and Africa, sales and distribution Paola Tonella said, "Drama is topping the bill at this year?s Showcase and it?s clear that BBC Worldwide?s programming with its quality scripts and first class production values are extremely attractive to global buyers. We are very proud of the Showcase slate, and I?m delighted we have completed important deals for these series, as well as our premium blue-chip documentaries, to key broadcasters in this region."