Team ESPN takes on ICC/BCCI?

dcsiva — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:48:00 GMT

Even before this Sunday's ICC teleconference decision day, South Africa have backed out of the Champions Trophy:

CSA studied security in Pakistan and plans for the event, along with reports from the South African government.
South African Cricketers’ Association CEO Tony Irish said: "This was a difficult decision but the right one."
...
The ICC task force has travelled to Australia, New Zealand and England in recent weeks to discuss security issues with the national cricketing bodies.
And those countries could now follow South Africa's example by withdrawing from the tournament.

As India and Pakistan have hardened their position on having to have the Champions Trophy in Pakistan, and they're bound to have at least Bangladesh and Sri Lanka on their sides, the stage is now set for ESPN-Star to sue the ICC!

If the board, the ICC's ultimate and often incompetent decision-making body, does not decide to move the tournament, broadcaster ESPN-Star is likely to sue the ICC for tens of millions of dollars in compensation.

Countries which refuse to compete may then in turn be sued by the ICC, which is why player associations in Australia, England, New Zealand and South Africa have all been far more vocal than their boards.

Will the money-men of the BCCI now finally realise that they're playing with fire here? ESPN won't like losing millions of dollars on broadcasting an event that none of the big nations are playing in, that's for sure.

Cover Points : ESPN-Star

Team ESPN takes on ICC/BCCI?