Board for Control of Cricket in India president Ranbir Singh Mahendra is confident that the Pakistani cricket team's tour of India will go ahead as scheduled and the Board will be able to settle the television rights' dispute to the satisfaction of all parties.
"I am confident that we will be able to sort out the matter in time for the tour to go ahead," Mahendra told rediff.com on Tuesday.
Zee Telefilms and the BCCI are involved in a legal dispute after the latter withdrew its Letter of Intent to Zee for four-year telecast rights of all international matches to be played in India, for USD 308 million.
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The case is now in the Madras high court.
International Cricket Council president Ehsan Mani has said that without live telecast the matches cannot be played.
Asked if the Board would move the Supreme Court, Mahendra said the option would be the last resort.
"Let us see what order does the [Madras] high court give. Otherwise, this option is decidedly open to us," he said.
Mahendra denied reports on Zee News that the BCCI is considering shifting the One-Day Internationals allotted to Delhi and Kanpur to other centres because of security reasons.
"I have not told Zee News that we are shifting the venues. You should ask them who gave you the news. As far as we are concerned the matches at Delhi and Kanpur will be played as per schedule," he said.
Rajiv Shukla, a vice-president of the BCCI, told rediff.com that there is no threat to the Kanpur one-dayer from Shiv Sainiks or any other outfit.
"I am surprised that the television channel is basing its report on the submissions of a police officer and is not bothered to ask for our comments," he said.
Shukla is also a prominent member of the Kanpur Cricket Association.
