ICC and members to meet in Karachi to discuss Indian television rights issue

The International Cricket Council today confirmed that representatives from all of its Full Member countries will meet in Karachi on Thursday 12 January to discuss the issue of television rights in India.

The session will also be attended by representatives from several major broadcasters and media rights holders.

It has been convened following a directive issued recently by the Indian government that all major sporting events involving India, including high-profile cricket matches, should be made available to the state broadcaster, Prasar Bharati.

As the Full Member representatives attending these discussions are all directors of the ICC (or their designated alternate representatives) these discussions will be followed by a meeting of the ICC Executive Board on the same day.

The Executive Board meeting will focus on the same issue of television rights in India. It will also address the arrangements for the ICC Champions Trophy 2006.

Other issues including those relating to the ICC Future Tours Program and future ICC events will be discussed at the next scheduled Executive Board meeting which will be in March in Dubai.

Attendees at the discussions will include:

ICC representatives:

Ehsan Mani (President), Percy Sonn (Vice-President), Malcolm Speed (Chief Executive)

Full Member representatives:

Creagh O'Conner (Australia), Mohamad Ali Asghar (Bangladesh), David Morgan (England), Sharad Pawar (India), Sir John Anderson (New Zealand), Shaharyar Khan (Pakistan), Jayantha Dharmadasa (Sri Lanka), Ray Mali (South Africa), Tony Marshall (West Indies), Peter Chingoka (Zimbabwe).

The following broadcasters/sports marketing companies are amongst those that have been invited to attend:

CSI Octagon, ESS, Sony Entertainment Television, TEN Sports, TWI, Zee.

There will also be representatives from ICC Associate Member countries - including HRH Tunku Imran (Chairman of Associates) - and other representitives of Full Member boards.