Broadcasters Star Sports have raised a red flag to the International Cricket Council about “concern” in the market due to the uncertainty of India participating in next month’s Champions Trophy, reported Reuters on Thursday.
“There is concern in the market,” said an unnamed Star India official to Reuters, according to the report. “There has been no official communication from the ICC or the BCCI on India’s participation. We have sent an email to the ICC asking how they plan to compensate us if our business is impacted due to India’s pullout.”
The group owns the broadcasting rights for 18 ICC global events between 2015 and 2023. However, India, who enjoy the biggest market for cricket rights, missed the deadline for naming a squad for the Champions Trophy which begins in June next month, following a dispute with the ICC over a new revenue model.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India were outvoted on a new revenue model in April which brought down their revenue share from global events between 2015 and 2023 from $ 570 million to $ 293 million. In response, the BCCI have contemplated revoking the Member’s Participation Agreement between them and the ICC which would mean a pull-out by India from all ICC events in that period.