KOLKATA, Sept 30: The Indian cricket board on Thursday announced it would go ahead with live telecasts of the upcoming home Test series against Australia and South Africa despite a raging court battle.

"The board itself will produce the live telecast of the matches," newly elected board president Ranbir Singh Mahendra said, adding however that the telecast remained subject to any order passed by the Supreme Court.

The top court is currently hearing arguments on a petition filed by Zee Telefilms against the board's decision to cancel telecast rights which the network insists were awarded to it for the next four years.

The court is yet to reach a verdict and has adjourned until Oct 5, the eve of the first Australia Test. Mahendra said the board had decided to produce, distribute the feed and sell the telecast of the forthcoming Test series, which had looked in danger of cancellation amid legal wrangling.

"Ten Sports will produce the live feeds for the board, while Sony Entertainment Network will distribute and market the telecast on a revenue-sharing basis," he said.

India open their home season with the four-Test series against Australia, starting at Bangalore on Oct 6. The series will be followed by two Tests against South Africa and a one-dayer against Pakistan.

The telecast of these matches would be done under the same arrangement, Mahendra said. The Indian board had been hoping for an early resolution to the court case. Neither the board nor Cricket Australia favours the series being played without live television coverage. -AFP