MUMBAI: Asia?s leading sports content provider ESPN Star Sports has extended its agreement to broadcast the FIM Superbike World Championship across Asia until 2018.

The broadcast agreement includes pay-TV rights for live and delayed races as well as race highlights, in addition to rights for free-to-air broadcast in most markets.

The deal also includes rights for online and mobile coverage via ESPN Player and Mobile ESPN. The broadcast rights cover ESPN Star Sports? footprint including India, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.

In the future, the World Superbike calendar will feature two new races - India from 2013 and possibly Indonesia from 2014 onwards - that will be sure to bolster interest in Asia.

ESS VP Programming Nick Wilkinson said, "We are delighted to continue our partnership with World Superbike to continue showcasing the best of motorsport to fans in Asia. ESPN Star Sports is Asia?s home for motorsports and with our stellar line-up of leading sports events, this new partnership underscores our commitment to serve our viewers with top quality sport programming."

MUMBAI: The officials from Indian and Pakistani cricket boards have zeroed in on England as the alternate venue to host India?s return tour to Pakistan since the South Asian nation has become a no-go zone for cricketing nations after the Sri Lankan team was attacked in Lahore.

India was expected to tour Pakistan in early 2009. However, the bi-lateral series came to nought due to 26/11 terrorist attacks in Mumbai which had the blessing of elements in the Pakistani establishment.

However, after years of deliberations and intervention from highest level to normalise bi-lateral relations between the two countries, the Indian cricket board agreed to invite Pakistan for a short series including three ODI and two T20.

The beneficiary from this abruptly scheduled series is Star India as it holds the telecast rights of international cricked played in India.

According to reports, the BCCI and PCB officials had discussed the possiblity wherein India would have acted as Pakistan?s home venue. The proposal was dropped considering the fact that it would have met with stiff resistance domestically.

The BCCI is not keen in playing Pakistan in United Arab Emirates, which has become a regular home venue for Pakistan, since the Gulf state presents security challenge.

The reason England has emerged as hot favourite to host an Indo-Pak series is due to presence of cricket loving fans besides a sizeable expat population from South Asia. The time zones also favour England since it will be evening prime time in India when the matches are aired on channels.

Ten Sports, which holds the Pakistan board rights till 2013, will wish India to be reciprocal in accepting the return bi-lateral series that is rated higher than the Ashes rivalry between England and Australia.