BCB seeks adjustments in Nimbus deal

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) believes it has come closer to sorting out a record television rights deal with Nimbus Sports International. A core negotiation delegation of the BCB has put forward some adjustments to the initial contract and if all goes well, the deal should be finalised soon, said the head of the negotiation committee.

Nimbus, a Singapore-based television company, had paid US$57million for live coverage rights for all matches in Bangladesh until 2012. However, the government stalled its approval of the record deal in late 2006, stating that the deal lacked transparency. The new BCB management decided to investigate the sensitive financial deal, which was supposed to be finalised by the end of last year.

"I am hopeful about a positive end of it especially after the way the discussion has progressed in the last three days. We put forward our observations on the legal and financial aspects of the agreement and the Nimbus delegation agreed to place those issues on their board," MA Momen told the Daily Star, a Dhaka-based daily. "What we felt is that we have to make some adjustments in the agreement to protect our interests. If we fail to make those adjustments then ultimately we will be a loser in the long-term agreement."

Momen did not rule out the possibility of a new deal if the Nimbus authorities chose to deny the BCB's desired adjustments. "I am hopeful about a good solution because we discussed in a very friendly atmosphere and I think nothing is better for both sides than reaching an agreement if we are a little bit more compromising," he said.

"Minimum guaranteed clause made totally based on the series that included India and we found that we will be the loser in seven series where India would not be taking part. And it was evident when Zimbabwe toured here last year. That's why we wanted the adjustments in this regard."

According to Momen, there were some observations on the allowable production expenses where the BCB specified areas that needed to be solved. The BCB also had problems with the manner in which insurance was described were there to be a no-show.