Aussie Threaten To Pull Out

Tuesday, September 21 2004

Australia may pull out of their tour of India if the current disputes over television rights are not resolved imminently.

Cricket Australia has told Indian cricket bosses it would be unacceptable for the series not to be aired on TV.

The disputes all started when the television network ESPN-Star Sports decided to challenge India's decision to award the TV rights for all international cricket played in India until the year 2008 to rival network Zee.

The trouble though comes, as all fresh bids for the rights to the Australian series cannot be accepted until the dispute is resolved.

Meanwhile, the opening match of the Australian tour on the 30th of September has been rearranged from the new venue in Hyderabad to Mumbai after criticism of the original venue from the Australian Cricket Board.

India's Board of Control for Cricket felt the new venue would be ready and the criticism wasn't a problem, but did not want to take any chances and were happy to rearrange the venue.

Posted by Richard