Television coverage from Sri Lanka in doubt

New Zealand cricket fans could struggle for live television coverage of the TelstraClear Black Caps' forthcoming tour to Sri Lanka.

Negotiations are continuing, and may continue right up until the day before the first Test match is due to start on Anzac Day, April 25.

SKY Television producer James Cameron said today that heavy expenditure involved in bringing the World Cup in for New Zealand viewers had hit the coverage budget.

However, he was hopeful that all was not lost in securing coverage.

The cricket budget year ends on June 30.

Cameron said there would be live coverage from New Zealand's tour to India next season, and there would also be live coverage of New Zealand's tour to England next year.

There would also be cricket still available on SKY this year with highlights packages available from England, for the seven Test matches to be played there and for the NatWest Challenge and NatWest Series of One-Day Internationals.

There was also a possibility that Australia's mid-winter Tests against Bangladesh in Darwin and Cairns might also be telecast here.