Cricket Australia has reiterated its commitment to delivering quality and compelling summer of cricket, while also expressing disappointment at public comments from free-to-air broadcast partner Seven West Media's Chief Executive James Warburton.
The boss of Australia's Channel 7 said on Friday that the broadcaster may terminate its contract with Cricket Australia (CA) over its handling of the summer schedule, according to comments published in the Daily Telegraph.
"It's a train wreck," James Warburton was quoted as saying, with concerns raised about this year’s BBL being played without the involvement of foreign stars due to strict COVID-19 guidelines.
"We are forced to consider all our options including terminating the contract and we have put them on notice. This is not an acceptable product and we will not support the season. Cricket Australia has an obligation to deliver a competition of no lesser standard than the past,” he had said.
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Warburton also claimed that Seven's contract under the $1.18 billion broadcast rights deal that also included Fox Sports (majority-owned by News Corp) was in jeopardy because of the continued uncertainty surrounding the cricket schedule.
The government protocols have already made CA cancel the West Indies and Zimbabwe series at home. However, the Cricket Australia spokesperson released a dignified response to their broadcast partners.
"Cricket Australia greatly values the relationship with our broadcast partners. While disappointed by comments made in the media today, CA remains committed to delivering a full and compelling summer of cricket,” a CA spokesperson said.
"With the Australian men’s team having already landed safely in England for their return to international cricket (from next week), we want to reassure fans here in Australia and around the world that we are well advanced in delivering our home summer of cricket,” he added.
He further said, "We continue to navigate our way through the challenges presented by COVID-19 with the support of all our partners, including governments, sponsors, and bio-security experts, State and Territories Associations and the Australian Cricketers’ Association."
CA's interim Chief Executive Nick Hockley expressed confidence in being able to deliver a full schedule of international and domestic men's and women's matches despite COVID-19 challenges.
"Bio-security and health and safety of the players throughout the summer is absolutely the number one priority. We are hoping the situation improves and clearly it’s going to be a busy and full summer, for both the international playing group and also the domestic group and the W/BBL. Everyone's working around the clock and we're getting amazing support from our partners, from governments, and the pieces are now really starting to fall into place,” he had said.
(Reuters and cricket.com.au inputs)
