Essel Sports has been locked in litigation with the Indian cricket board for a while now.
At the meeting, Srinivasan -- who has 'stepped aside' from the day-to-day functioning of the BCCI following the spot-fixing scandal -- reminded ICC board members about the ongoing litigation, and how it could impact the BCCI, ICC and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
He strongly recommended that member boards refrain from entering into any broadcast rights with the group. "Srinivasan told the ICC board members that if Essel Sports wins the litigation with the BCCI, ICC and ECB, the boards would have to pay big damages. The BCCI boss pointed out how some members were still awarding rights to companies which belonged to the Essel Group," a source told TOI on Friday.
However, following an objection by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), which has a broadcast deal with Ten Sports -- a part of the Essel Group -- the ICC said it was the right of any cricket board to choose "whichever broadcaster it sought fit".
The ICC also said that with significant broadcast revenues at stake, nothing should be done to jeopardize broadcast money, or the sovereign right to choose a broadcaster, according to sources.
West Indies Cricket Board representative Julian Hunte had replied that WICB's contract with Ten Sports was in its best financial interests. "The WICB had said that Ten Sports had paid a significantly bigger amount than any other party," the source added.
Sources said the ICC board then sought the understanding of the "broadcast arrangement in order to obtain an understanding".
The litigation started in the wake of Essel Group launching the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL). The ICC may discuss the issue at its upcoming board meeting again to obtain a resolution, sources said.
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