MUMBAI: Cracks in the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) continue to surface. The latest: Punjab Cricket association president IS Bindra has shot off a letter to BCCI president Ranbir Singh Mahendra, protesting against the production contract for the upcoming Indo-Pakistan series being awarded to TWI.
Nimbus' offer was the lowest at $1.29 million and was not "open ended" as Dalmiya had argued but "absolutely specific", Bindra has said in the letter.
Refuting the media release issued by the board yesterday, Bindra said he could not understand "how and when the decision was taken to accept the production offer of Trans World International and at what rate." It would be inaccurate to say the decision was taken unanimously by the working committee of the BCCI because "we had only authorised the president to negotiate with both the parties" and take a decision to ensure that the board's revenue is "maximised" while the cost of production is "minimised."
Bindra also dismissed another point in the media release which said, "The President, BCCI was authorised to decide upon the Satellite Overseas rights of the series on the basis of the received offers".
"This is totally inaccurate and in contravention of the unanimous decision which was to invite open offers within 48 hours from overseas satellite and terrestrial channels as well as reputed marketing companies for sale of overseas rights."
Bindra also refuted the statement that the Working Committee did not agree with Prasar Bharati's views with regard to the Indian terrestrial and satellite rights.
"The clear and unambiguous decision was to give terrestrial rights to Doordarshan and the president was authorised to negotiate either minumum amount or a sharing formula where the agency for marketing would be decided by BCCI on the basis of offers to be invited."
"It was further unanimously resolved by the working committee that as regards satellite rights for India are concerned we should invite offers from Doordarshan Sports, Set Max and Ten Sports, the three satellite channels operating in India," Bindra said in his letter to Mahendra.
Intrigue, internal fissures, backroom deals, it's all happening in the Indian cricket board. But on one issue there's no answer. Where's the money? The only thing clear about the present controversy is that BCCI will pay Trans World International $ 1.5 million for production services.
There's no word yet on any money coming in from anywhere though. It stands out even more starkly if one considers that the value attached by Zee Telefilms to this particular series when it first made its $ 260 million punt for the India rights was Rs 1.93 billion (roughly $ 43 million).
