New Zealand are set to visit for two Tests, three ODIs and a Twenty20 international in October, but it is still uncertain whether the matches will be televised as Bangladesh Cricket Board is yet to find an interested buyer for the television rights of the upcoming home series.
A tender was floated for the TV rights on July 15 and with much surprise the board did not receive any bid though the deadline passed yesterday afternoon, informed BCB's acting chief executive officer Nizam Uddin Chowdhury to the media.
BCB couldn't manage to pen down a long-term TV right since the expiry of the previous contract in April 2011 with Nimbus and the present situation has left the board with only one option - find, discuss and sell the rights with an interested buyer.
Earlier, Nimbus brought the rights of the home series against West Indies and Pakistan in 2011 while local Channel 9 bought the rights of the home series against West Indies last year.
"We will have to discuss and sell the rights to those who bagged the rights the last time as no bid has been made for it within the given deadline. We will have to make sure of it or else the series will be in jeopardy," said Nizam.
The bilateral series between Bangladesh and New Zealand might not be profitable which the board assumes is the chief reason for not getting an interested buyer.
On the other hand, the board is looking forward to pen down contracts with international insurance companies for the health insurance of the cricketers. The BCB did not extend its previous contract with Bupa International which expired two years ago as the return compared to the premium paid was not satisfactory.
BCB had to spend a huge sum of money from its own fund for treatment purpose of the cricketers in last one year. This has made the board rethink of getting the contracted cricketers' health insured.
"There have been many cricketers who were troubled with injuries in last one year. This is why we are thinking to get under contract with international insurance companies like Bupa and Allianz," informed Nizam.
