The International Cricket Council confirmed on Friday that the provision of television coverage for third umpire decisions is a pre-requisite for staging international cricket matches.
Responding to a request from the Board of Control for Cricket in India to allow India's upcoming series against Australia to proceed without third umpire television coverage, ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed said it is the ICC's policy that adequate television facilities for the third umpire are mandatory for all Test and One-Day Internationals.
"ICC is not able to agree to BCCI's proposal. It is ICC policy that all international matches must have third umpire television coverage in place. ICC has revisited this policy recently and confirmed that it is one of the requirements for international cricket," said Speed.
The ICC said it is aware of the litigation that is taking place concerning BCCI's television rights, but unable to waive the minimum requirement for television coverage for third umpires.
On September 5, the BCCI awarded the telecast rights, for matches played in India between October 2004 and September 2008 for $308 million, to Zee Telefilms Ltd. ESPN-Star Sports, who also bid for the rights, challenged the decision and moved the Mumbai high court, contending Zee is not eligible as it does not satisfy the tender conditions of eligibility.
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