ICC writes to Indian prime minister

The ICC confirmed that it had written to Dr Mahmohan Singh, the Indian Prime Minister, ahead of Thursday's cabinet meeting concerning moves to give Indian terrestrial television preferential treatment in securing the broadcast rights to telecast international cricket in India.

The TV rights saga has bedevilled Indian cricket since the time Australia were preparing to come over for their victorious jaunt in October-November 2004. Doordarshan, the state broadcaster, have been in the box-seat since, with rights being dispensed on a series-by-series basis.

ESPN-Star, owned by Rupert Murdoch, and India's own Zee Sports had been the frontrunners in the broadcast battle. With the board and state associations losing out on money, IS Bindra, former board president, had suggested that a further impasse could see the state bodies negotiate their own deals.