TV backers abandon Afro-Asia Cup
31/05/2007 |
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Next month's Afro-Asia Cup series in India is under threat after the main rights holder pulled out following the withdrawal of a number of star players.
"We will not be part of the event in any way," said Harish Thawani, chief executive of Nimbus Sports.
"We will not be telecasting the event, neither will we br producing nor bringing sponsorship for the matches.
"It is not viable because there is very little public interest in the absence of big names."
Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga and Shoaib Akhtar will all be missing from the Asian side for the three-match series, which is due to start in Bangalore next Tuesday and continue in Madras (Chennai) on 9-10 June.
Their opponents have also been hit by the withdrawals of captain Graeme Smith, who recently underwent knee surgery, and his South Africa team-mate Jacques Kallis.
The Asian Cricket Council is still hoping the series will take place, with the ESPN-Star network possibly taking over the TV coverage and marketing.
"It's an important event because it raises funds for the development of cricket in Asia and Africa. We are trying our best to find an alternative [media backer] - hopefully something will work out," said ACC chief Ashraful Haq.
The Asia v Africa event was originally conceived by former Indian board president Jagmohan Dalmiya in 2005 and TV and marketing rights were sold to Nimbus for US $12m.
The two sides drew 1-1 in South Africa in that year, with the third match ruined by rain, but it was not played in 2006 because of the crowded international cricket calendar.
Nimbus's decision to pull out of this year's event comes only a day after the Zee network announced it would not be screening a three-match series between India and South Africa, which is due to take place in Northern Ireland from 26 June to 1 July.
The matches were part of a five-year plan by the Board of Control for Cricket in India to play limited overs internationals in neutral countries, which began with a tri-series, also involving Australia and West Indies, in Kuala Lumpur last year.
Zee were unwilling to share coverage with India's state broadcaster Doordarshan, as ordered by the national government, unless the fee to be paid for the rights was renegotiated.
(Source: BBC.co.uk)
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