MUMBAI: Television viewers in Australia will not be able to watch the IPL which kicks off today in Chennai due to a stalemate involving Australian television networks and Indian cricket administrators.

A report in ?The Age? states that ?Network Ten? held the rights for the first four seasons of the IPL but declined to air last year?s event, mainly because of the poor ratings and also because it coincided with a diversification of its One HD channel away from consisting solely of sport.

The newspaper also reported that it is believed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has sought a hefty price whenever a new IPL TV rights contract has been discussed with Australian networks.

Australians can watch the action online at ipl.indiatimes.com and youtube.com/indiatimes.

The successor to Ten for the now-lapsed IPL rights, Fox Sports, is about to begin its broadcast of the West Indies Tests, while on weekends it has significant AFL, rugby league, rugby union and soccer commitments.

MUMBAI: West Indian power hitter Chris Gayle has finally reached a compromise agreement with the nation?s cricket governing body WICB (West Indies Cricket Board) that was brokered by socio-economic organisation, Caribbean Community.

The agreement though comes with a rider that he is honour-bound to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the English Friends Provident Twenty20 league this season that might make his comeback to the national difficult.

"The Board was advised that Mr Chris Gayle has signed the Caricom-brokered agreement, but with a ?side letter? from Mr Gayle," the WICB said in a release.

"Prime Minister, the Honourable Dr Ralph Gonsalves, provided a copy of Mr Gayle?s ?side letter?. The matter was discussed and the Board will respond to the Honourable Prime Minister shortly," it said.

Earlier this year, the 32-year-old Jamaican signed a new deal with IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore to play in this year?s edition. He has also inked a one-year deal with Somerset to play in the Friends Provident League.

In April last year, Gayle had criticised West Indies Cricket Board and coach Ottis Gibson which resulted in his ouster from the team and has not played for the team since. However, Gayle?s reputation as a big hitter saw him being invited to play for various Twenty20 tournaments like Bangladesh Premier League and Big Bash League.