ABC drops plans to cover India-Australia Test series over BCCI's pay-and-cover policy

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), which is the country’s national broadcaster, has pulled out plans to cover the upcoming Australia-India four-match Test series in India.

The national broadcaster cried out as Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made it mandatory for all broadcasters from touring nations to pay to cover matches at Indian venues.

ABC mulled sending vastly experienced cricket commentator Jim Maxwell as a reporter but they had to drop that idea as BCCI’s new coverage rules clearly state that he could not cover any match from the ground since touring nations need to pay to cover matches.

BCCI’s stand of ‘pay-to-cover matches’ did not go down well with the English broadcasters recently, who responded to the Indian cricket board’s policy with both BBC and SkyTV deciding not to send their commentary teams to cover England‘s recent tour.

It is learnt that ABC is contemplating sending a representation to the Indian high commissioner to protest against the BCCI’s pay-to-cover move.

ABC had earlier covered the Indian series in 1994, 1998, 2001, 2004 and 2008. The only time they did not cover a series in India was the 2010 series on account of the Commonwealth Games.