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General Sports News

IPL to be held outside India

Author: Rose Young
Date: 22/03/2009

Next month's Indian Premier League will be held outside India with South Africa or England both potential hosts.

Tournament organisers have taken the decision after failing to secure government approval for the matches to go ahead.

The six-week event coincides with the forthcoming general election in India, which has prompted fears over security.

Meanwhile, England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Giles Clarke has suggested that they are willing to step in and host the tournament - which runs from April 10-May 24 - at short notice.

In the Premier League, Sir Alex Ferguson has demanded a response from his Manchester United players in their 'crucial' next game after Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Fulham breathed fresh life into the title race and opened up the betting once again.

United's lead at the top of the table could be reduced to one point by Liverpool on Sunday and Ferguson has conceded his side's stumble - following last weekend's 4-1 humiliation at the hands of the Reds - has come at precisely the wrong moment.

Guus Hiddink fears that Chelsea's defeat at Tottenham on Saturday could come back to haunt them in the race for the title.

Chelsea failed to move to within one point of United at the summit and afterwards Hiddink suggested the timing of their defeat could prove to be crucial.

Caretaker boss Chris Hughton has admitted Newcastle United are now embroiled in a relegation dogfight following their 3-1 defeat to Arsenal.

The Magpies slipped into the bottom three after extending their winless run to five Premier League games on Saturday and afterwards Hughton refused to deny claims that the St James' Park club are now in dire straits.

Newcastle are two points adrift of safety and in serious danger of dropping out of the Premier League for the first time since they returned to the top-flight in 1993.

In rugby union, Ireland coach Declan Kidney has refused to take all the credit for his side's Six Nations success.

Ireland were 17-15 winners over Wales in Saturday's decider in Cardiff as they claimed a first Grand Slam since 1948.

But after the narrow victory over pre-tournament favourites Wales, Kidney paid tribute to the work done by predecessor Eddie O'Sullivan before he took the helm eight months ago.

Meanwhile, Scotland coach Frank Hadden refused to comment on his own future following Saturday's 26-12 defeat by England.

Hadden's tenure will come under the spotlight in the light of Scotland's disappointing Six Nations campaign in which they won just one game.

SRU chief executive Gordon McKie had already confirmed that he would be reviewing the coaching set-up after the tournament, but Hadden refused to contemplate his own future after losing the Calcutta Cup clash at Twickenham.

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