No option but to cancel TV rights proceedings - BCCI

The Indian cricket board has told the Madras High Court that it had no option but to cancel proceedings for awarding telecasting rights in the interest of cricket.

Arguing on behalf of the BCCI on a petition filed by Zee Telefilms, which challenged the arbitrary cancellation of tender proceedings, KK Venugopal, a senior advocate, contended that the board was under pressure, with Cricket Australia threatening to call off the series (which began in October 2004) if the issue of telecasting rights was not resolved quickly. He added that the cancellation of the series would have resulted in the Indian board being blacklisted by the International Cricket Council.

He added that matters had got even more uncertain with ESPN-Star Sports' petition, against the award of rights to Zee, still pending. Also, the issue surrounding the sponsorship and distribution of revenue slots remained unresolved. Venugopal said that the decision was taken keeping in mind the overall interest of cricket.

Also, he clarified that this was not a case of a concluded contract being broken, and added that Zee had regularly said that it was an inclusive contract. He claimed that Zee had moved the court with contrary views and asked how a petitioner could seek a mandamus in the case of a "not concluded" contract.