At present, the main covers they buy are for loss of ad revenue due to rainfall. They also take cover against breakdown of satellites. If there is no live feed on television, the advertisers simply do not play, the sources said. Indian insurance companies have made big payouts in 2007 for matches that were disrupted. The India-Sri Lanka match in Kolkata at the start of the year, which was washed out, and the India-Australia match in Bangalore that was cancelled after 50 overs …

Cricket may be a game of glorious uncertainties, but the rise in the number of off-the-field incidents has opened up new business opportunities for insurance companies.

The Indian cricket board’s (BCCI) stand-off with the International Cricket Council (the governing body of the game) over the three-Test ban on Harbhajan Singh has brought to fore the financial cost of such wrangles and possible protection.

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