22 September 2004	Wednesday	06 Shaban 1425

LAHORE, Sept 21: Pakistan's cricket chief has intervened in bid to resolve a row over the television rights for next week's tri-series between Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, officials said on Tuesday.

"The Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Shaharyar Khan, has intervened in the case and we will try to settle the matter out of court," PCB legal adviser Asghar Haider said.

Shaharyar convened a meeting of two Dubai-based channels, Taj Entertainment Network (TEN Sports) and ARY on Tuesday to resolve the issue. "We hope that differences between the two television companies would not disturb the broadcast of cricket matches," Asghar said.

The Dubai-based channels jointly won the broadcasting rights of international cricket played in Pakistan for US$43 million last year for a period of five years.

But differences erupted between the two channels over the issue. Lahore High Court Judge Syed Jamshed Ali Shah on Monday adjourned the hearing for three days to give the PCB chief time to resolve the matter, he said.

Pakistan suffered a television blackout last year when a Dubai-based private channel and state-owned Pakistan Television Corporation got involved in a wrangle. The issue was resolved a day after a One-day International between Pakistan and New Zealand could not be broadcast. -AFP