No camera, no action, warns ICC

The need for an urgent settlement to the telecast-rights battle was highlighted today by the International Cricket Council, who confirmed that the provision of television coverage was essential for the four-Test series between India and Australia to go ahead.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had made a request to the ICC that, if the dispute was not settled on time, the series should be allowed to go ahead without the cameras present. The ICC, however, advised that it is their policy to insist on adequate TV facilities for Test and one-day internationals, without which the third umpire would not be able to adjudicate on line calls.

"The ICC is not able to agree to the proposal," confirmed Malcolm Speed, the chief executive. "It is ICC policy that all international matches must have third-umpire television coverage in place. We have revisited this policy recently and confirmed that it is one of the requirements for international cricket."