Former Board of Control for Cricket in India president I S Bindra has questioned the granting of telecast production rights for the money-spinning India-Pakistan cricket series to Trans World International and claimed that the Board's decision was not "unanimous" as officially stated.
Dismissing the media statement issued on behalf of the Board on Tuesday, after its emergency Working Committee Meeting in Delhi, as "total misrepresentation and distortion of decisions", he said he could not understand "how and when the decision was taken to accept the production offer of TWI and (at) what rate".
He said there were three other offers, including the lowest one from Nimbus, and the committee authorised the BCCI chief to take a decision on the matter.
"The media release saying that the decision was taken unanimously by the Working Committee is inaccurate because we had only authorised the president to negotiate with both the parties and take a decision keeping in view the cost of the production so as to ensure that we maximize our revenue and minimize our expenditure in terms of cost of production and revenue generated," Bindra said in a letter to BCCI chief Ranbir Singh Mahendra.
Bindra, currently president of the Punjab Cricket Association, also said the person who issued the statement had "done a great disservice to the Working Committee and its members" by misrepresenting facts.
"As regards production [rights] was concerned I had specifically pointed out about the three offers received. The lowest offer was of Nimbus and it was a specific and unambiguous offer categorically stating that production for live coverage for the upcoming series will significantly
exceed the specifications laid down in the BCCI tender document of August 2004 and the total charges of production was USD 1,290,000."
Bindra has also refuted the part of the media release which said, 'The President, BCCI was authorised to decide upon the Satellite Overseas rights of the series on the basis of the received offer.'
"This is totally inaccurate and in contravention of the unanimous decision which was to invite open offers within 48 hours from overseas satellite and terrestrial channels as well as reputed marketing companies for sale of overseas rights."
Bindra also dismissed the statement that the Working Committee did not agree with Prasar Bharati's views with regard to the Indian terrestrial and satellite rights.
"The clear and unambiguous decision was to give terrestrial rights to Doordarshan and president was authorized to negotiate either minimum amount or a sharing formula where the agency for marketing would be decided by BCCI on the basis of offers to be invited.
"It was further unanimously resolved by the Working Committee that as regards satellite rights for India are concerned we should invite offers from Doordarshan Sports, Set Max and Ten Sports, the three satellite channels operating in India," Bindra said.
"This decision was taken in the light of the orders of the honorable Chennai high court which specifically prohibits Zee TV network and ESPN/Star Sports for being the vehicle for the signal produced by BCCI," Bindra said.
He also wondered why there was no mention of his charge that the BCCI has lost Rs 300 crore or more due to the television rights wrangle while noting that Niranjan Shah of Saurashtra CA was capable enough to clarify whether he had apologised to the Working Committee or not for having raised the same issue through another letter.
"Para 5 [of the statement] makes a mention about Mr Niranjan Shah expressing a regret. I will not like to comment on anything about Mr Shah because he is capable of defending himself.
"However, I will like to mention that when Mr Dalmiya referred to my letter wherein I had mentioned the loss of Rs 300 crores and more, I categorically stated that I stand by my statement. Strangely enough no mention is made.
"Whosoever has issued the press release, in my opinion, has done a great disservice to the Working Committee and its members. I have no doubt it was done without your [Mahendra's] clearance.
"In the light of above, I will request you to clarify the matter forthwith and inform the public and the members about the correct decisions," the letter added.
