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Battle looms as Cricket Board insists on TV switch
By Marlon Fernandopulle
A cash strapped Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka(BCCSL) which is embroiled in a legal dispute over the granting of Television rights is poised to go ahead and award the rights for the England tour to WSG Nimbus for US $ 2.6 Million, despite being tied on to the existing contract with Taj Television.

The Secretary of the BCCSL Mohan de Silva, who flew to Singapore on Friday night to finalize the latest deal and negotiate for the reduction on the US $ 11 million damages claimed by WSG following the termination of the earlier deal, confirmed that the figure is US $ 400,000 above what Taj TV has offered in their existing contract.

WSG has indicated to the BCCSL that they will waiver a sizeable quantum of the damages claimed on the condition that the rights to Televise the England tour will be given to them. Although the BCCSL has agreed to this condition, the final amount that will be waived (which is believed to be over 50%) will only be known after the outcome of the discussions between WSG Nimbus and BCCSL Secretary Mohan de Silva in Singapore over the weekend.

The BCCSL is of the view that there are certain irregularities in the current television rights contract signed between the Cricket Board Interim committee and Taj Television two years ago. In addition, the ruling given by a Singapore Arbitration court where the BCCSL is to pay US $ 11 million as damages to WSG Nimbus for unlawfully and illegally terminating their contract has prompted the BCCSL to take this decision.
De Silva earlier refuted claims that the BCCSL is not burdened with such a heavy claim by WSG. "We have documentary evidence to prove the WSG claim for US$ 11 million. Infact the BCCSL Administrations in the recent past have spent as much as Rs.38 million as legal fees to fight this case".

When asked what the reaction of the current TV right holders Taj TV would be to this De Silva replied saying", We hope to discuss this matter with Taj TV and arrive at an amicable settlement acceptable to all parties".

The Dubai based Taj Television have an existing contract with the BCCSL which entitles them for all Television rights for games played in Sri Lanka until September next year following the signing of the contract in November 2001. It was also reported earlier this week that Taj TV have already sold Television feeds for the English tour to SKY TV.Thus it will be another enormous task for the BCCSL to convince Taj TV to step down from their existing contract and give away to WSG Nimbus.

When contacted by the Sunday Times the Director of Taj TV,Jude de Vallerie said, "We are still the holders of the Television rights contract.We have not heard anything officially from the BCCSL". The Sunday Times learns that the Dubai based Television Company which is headed by Business Tycoon Abdul Rahman Bukhatir is not going to take these recent developments lightly and the issue may well end up in the Court of Law.

BCCSL calls for an EGM
The BCCSL has summoned it's membership for an emergency general meeting on the 14 th of September to pass a resolution that will enable the Cricket Board to take Legal action against individuals who have been involved in Financial irregularities, tarnished the image of the game and missed opportunities during the period from March 2001 to June 2003.

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