BCCI scraps Nimbus contract

MUMBAI: In what can be termed as a severe blow to Nimbus, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has terminated the contract with the sports broadcaster.

Cricket?s richest board, BCCI, took the decision at its Working Committee meeting on Monday after Nimbus failed to agree to the BCCI?s terms that it pay 50 per cent of each months stipulated amount 30 days prior to commencement of the recently concluded West Indies series.

At the BCCI?s emergent working committee meeting, members were unanimous in scrapping the telecast deal for India?s home series matches.

It is also learnt that the BCCI may encash the Rs 20 billion bank guarantee. Nimbus had renewed the contract with the BCCI is 2009-10 for four years, for a whopping Rs 20 billion.

As per the contract, Nimbus was to pay a sum of Rs 315 million for each Test, 50-over and Twenty20 international played in India in that specific four-year period.

This means that domestic cricket, including Ranji Trophy, does not have a broadcaster. Reports add that the BCCI was not happy that World Series Hockey was being promoted during the live cricket broadcast.

However, with no international cricket matches scheduled in India for the next eight months, the BCCI obviously felt that now was the right time to terminate the contract and enter into a fresh deal. Terminating the deal now gives it enough time to plan for the future.