Women's ODI blacked out

Hours after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) signed a record telecast rights deal with Star Sports, the series-opener between India Women and England Women was not broadcast on any of the broadcasters' platforms.

The rights for women's and domestic matches are awarded free of cost.

Hours after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) signed a record telecast rights deal with Star Sports, the series-opener between India Women and England Women was not broadcast on any of the broadcasters' platforms.

No doubt the broadcast agreement between the BCCI and Star Sports, which held the rights for the previous cycle that ended on March 31, for the BCCI for international and domestic cricket played in India comes into effect from April 15. But according a BCCI insider, Star “had promised” to broadcast the three-match series.

While a Star Sports spokesperson told Sportstar that the inability to telecast the match was due to “delay in paperwork since the contract came in only yesterday”, the network tweeted that it “did not have the requisite rights for coverage” and hinted at a possible telecast of the remaining two matches. Interestingly, the channel had aired promos of the series. A BCCI office-bearer stated that the “legal formalities” had to be completed once Star had been awarded the contract.

As a result, the match was live-streamed only on the BCCI's official website. It may be noted that the BCCI fetches money only for the senior team's matches in India. The rights for women's and domestic matches are awarded free of cost.