BCCI invite fresh bids for Indian cricket TV rights

After a controversial telecast rights saga, which had kept the rights of Indian cricket in limbo, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) has decided to invite fresh bids.

The norms and guidelines are to be framed by a marketing committee to be set up soon, according to Press Trust of India (PTI) report.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) working committee, which met in Thiruvananthapuram over the past two days, also decided to file a Rs 100 million defamation suit against Netaji Cricket Club of Chennai (NCC) for dragging it to court over the legality of last year’s elections, the agency report stated.

The Committee authorised Board president Ranbir Singh Mahendra to take a decision on Vice President Kamal Morarka’s complaint against Rajasthan Cricket Association chief Lalit Modi.

Morarka had alleged that Modi was convicted on charges of kidnapping and smuggling in the US 20 years ago and demanded the later’s removal from all posts in the Board, the agency reported.

Besides ratifying the appointment of Greg Chappell as the national coach, the board decided on the future itinerary of the Indian cricket team.

Addressing the media after the meeting, Mahendra said the Board decided to spare Tamil Nadu Cricket Association of any stringent action including suspension of grants and financial assistance provided the latter assured it would not co-operate with the two of its affiliates, the Bharti Club and the Theyagaraya Cricket Club, who have filed a series of petitions against the BCCI, the agency reported.

The appointment of a media manager for the Board would be decided by September this year.

BCCI vice-president Kamal Morarka, who had flown back to Mumbai after the first day, said with the Supreme Court upholding the Board’s decision to cancel the contract provisionally awarded to Zee Network, the decks were cleared for a fresh tender process.

“The marketing committee comprises the president, the secretary and the vice presidents of the Board. The president will decide if anyone should be included as well,” Morarka said.

“The dates of inviting the tenders, as well as the norms like the period of rights, will be decided by the marketing Committee,” he added.

Keep it with Biz Asia for the very latest on this upcoming saga.