MUMBAI: International cricket governing body ICC is tightening the screws as regards its control over the rights to next year's World Cup in the West Indies.

In a move similar to that already applied by the International Olympic Committee since 2000, the ICC is looking to ban over-by-over internet coverage of the game's premiere one day tournament.

The website of UK's Sports Journalists Association (SJA) reports that news organisations offering over-by-over coverage could lose ther press accreditations altogether.

The SJA quotes the ICC rules as stating: “For the avoidance of doubt, ball-by-ball and over-by-over updates for transmission via the radio, the internet or via any form of mobile device (including mobile telephones) or other related devices from within the ground are strictly prohibited.”

“These are draconian restrictions on press freedom and the ability of publishers and editors to inform their readers,” Steve Oram, the director of the Newspaper Publishers Association, and chairman of the sports rights working group at the World Association of Newspapers, was quoted in the report as telling the Guardian.

“It is dangerous in terms of precedent but perhaps more sinister is that increasing controls interfere with press freedom by controlling what newspapers can or can’t say,” Oram said.