NEW DELHI: The cricket rights saga continues to meander. The Indian cricket board today told a Delhi court that a final view on cricket bids would be taken by a new committee after the organisation’s annual general meeting (AGM) this month.
 
 

The next date of hearing at the Delhi High Court has been fixed now for 28 September.

Zee Telefilms had moved the court alleging that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had framed rules for telecast rights bid in such a way as to keep Indian companies out.

BCCI submitted before the court that since the Board’s annual general meeting was round the corner --- around 22-23 September --- a decision on the bids received by various companies would be examined only after that by a new committee.
 
 

The companies that have bid four years of cricket rights from 2005 on include Zee Telefilms, ESPN Star Sports, Indian pubcaster Doordarshan and Sony Entertainment TV.

Today’s submission by the BCCI before the Delhi HC means that the cricket rights issue is unlikely to be resolved soon.

Meanwhile, according to a Press Trust of India (PTI) report from Chandigarh, BCCI president Ranbir Singh Mahendra said today the AGM, among other things, would also discuss the issue of accommodating cricket in Commonwealth Games 2010 to be hosted by New Delhi.

On the team sponsorship issue, he did not reveal much hinting that no decision has been taken yet. The contract with Sahara, the current sponsors of the Indian cricket team, is coming to an end in November.