The ICC lifted the ban on news television channels covering the world cup finals following intervention by Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

Cricket’s global governing body said in a statement, it will however seek legal action against them for alleged violation of media guidelines. It said, the ICC will also seek to recover damages through the courts in India rather than bar the channels from the final match.

Earlier on Friday morning, representatives of the channels, who had gone to attend the pre-match press conferences of the rival captains and ICC President Sharad Pawar in Mumbai were barred from covering the events.

A similar ban was imposed on the channels before the Indo-Pak semi-finals at Mohali and was lifted on the day of the match.

The I and B Ministry took up the issue with the ICC on behalf of the broadcasters specially a day after the cricket body was given tax exemption by the Union Government on its incomes in the world cup.