Issues between BCCI and TenSports may lead to postponement of Ind-Zim series to next year

Issues between BCCI and TenSports may postpone the India-Zimbabwe series to next year: India’s upcoming tour to Zimbabwe could well be postponed to next year if the ongoing issues between the BCCI and the series broadcaster TenSports are not sorted out soon, a Zimbabwe Cricket release said. However, Wilson Manase, the ZC Chairman, along with the Board’s Chief Executive is hopeful of a resolution during his scheduled discussions with the Indian Board officials on the sidelines of the ICC annual conference in Barbados between June 22 and 26. It is understood that the discussions on the Essel Group-owned Ten Sports during the ICC conference could extend to their broadcast agreements with five other boards.

Wilson Manase in the ZC release stated: “If the matters take too long to resolve, ZC and the BCCI might mutually agree to push the tour to next year,”.

The problem could recur for India’s tour of Sri Lanka as well, scheduled in August for which Ten Sports could win the terrestrial rights for broadcasting the series in the subcontinent. The tour is currently not part of SLC’s deal with the channel. The ZC release also said that the Board is yet to contact the local immigration authorities for the attainment of Visas. “Cricket is a national sport and ZC enjoys a cordial relationship with all relevant government offices so the acquisition of visas is not an issue, “The substantive issues are what we will discuss in Barbados.” Manase said.

Team India is scheduled to play three ODIs and two T20s in Zimbabwe from July 10.