Fresh doubt thrown on Australia series

Fresh doubt has been thrown on Australia's forthcoming Test series in India, after a further day of legal wranglings at the Supreme Court. On Friday, the court delayed a hearing into the petition filed by Zee Telefilms, following the BCCI's decision to renege on its decision to award the network broadcasting rights for the next four years.

The hearing will now go ahead on Tuesday, although with barely a fortnight to go until the first Test gets underway at Bangalore on October 6, time is rapidly running out for the three parties - the BCCI, Zee and ESPN-Star Sports - to reach a settlement.

"If the Court says on Monday the TV rights cannot be given to anyone till Zee's petition is decided, we will be in real trouble," a BCCI official told AFP. "Time ran out a long time ago to decide on a broadcaster."

Neither the ICC nor Cricket Australia is happy at the prospect of playing the series without live coverage, and besides, it is a mandatory requirement for international matches for the host broadcaster to provide footage of line calls to assist the third umpire. This issue is set to continue running, although a conclusion must be reached as soon as possible.