Press accreditations snatched for violation of media rights

Mumbai:

Two electronic media personnel had their accreditations snatched away by the Mumbai Cricket Association authorities for violating coverage norms prior to the third day's pre-lunch session in the India-Sri Lanka third Test at the Brabourne Stadium here on Friday.

Reporter Swapan Paul and camera person Dipankar Adhikary of Kolkata TV a 24 hours Bengali news channel were alleged to have violated the media broadcast rights of Nimbus, MCA sources said.

"They were trying to get an interview of cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar, who is contracted by Nimbus for doing TV commentary, when he was having his breakfast this morning. This is not allowed," MCA sources said.

All non-holders of the broadcast rights are entitled to cover only the practice sessions of the two teams and the pre and post play media conferences during the five days of the match, as per the conditions of the accreditation given to the electronic media barring Nimbus.

Sources said following a request from the TV channel's senior scribe in Kolkata, the press accreditations of the duo would be handed back.