The finalisation of telecast rights for the India-Pakistan cricket series has been put on hold till next week, Board of Control for Cricket in India counsel told the Madras high court on Wednesday.
The BCCI counsel gave an undertaking that it would not finalise tenders or contracts for telecast of cricket matches to be played in the country, including next month's India-Pakistan series, till February 17.
The assurance was given when a petition filed by Zee Telefilms Ltd, challenging a September communication last year cancelling the contract bagged by the firm for telecasting cricket matches to be played in the country for the next four years, came up for hearing on Wednesday.
- Earlier related reports:
Zee bags BCCI's telecast rights
BCCI gives telecast rights to Prasar Bharti
Recording the undertaking, Justice K P Sivasubramanian directed the BCCI, former Board president Jagmohan Dalmiya and ESPN-Star Sports (ESS) to file their counter affidavits by February 14.
On February 2, a five-member Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court, while dismissing a writ petition filed by Zee challenging termination of the contract, had said that the television firm could move the Madras high court for relief.
Appearing for Zee, senior Supreme Court advocate Harish Salve moved the petition filed under article 226 of the Constitution, seeking to quash the cancellation order and restraining the BCCI from awarding telecasting rights till August 7, 2008 to any other provider.
Salve said the Board's decision cancelling the contract "reeks of corruption, is full of malafides and arbitrariness".
He alleged that the contract was cancelled to favour ESS and prevent Zee, an Indian company, from acquiring the telecasting rights for the period October 1, 2004 till August 7, 2008, which included last year's home series against Australia and South Africa.
He said when the tenders were opened it was found that his client's bid of US $260 million (approx Rs 1200 crore) was the highest and claimed that the BCCI instead of asking Zee if it could increase the amount told ESS to raise its bid and then asked Zee if it was prepared to match the amount.
Salve said his client quoted 308 million USD, which was accepted by the TV Rights Committee of the BCCI, and told to pay USD 20 million within 48 hours and the payment was made by Zee on September 7, 2004.
However, the committee was made to revise its decision and the acceptance of his client's tender was cancelled, he said and contended that the reasons given for the action were frivolous and would not bear scrutiny.
