Kochi IPL Consortium Demands More Time

By GAUTAM Jha

The word deadline often becomes dead in India. BCCI had given 10 days time on Oct 10 to Kochi IPL consortium to resolve the internal differences. The time is over but Kochi IPL consortium still needs some time to sort out the problem. On the very last day of deadline Oct 20, a letter was forwarded to BCCI demanding some more time as they are pretty close to end up the differences. The franchise is optimistic of getting the time which has got former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar as an Advisory Body .


Franchise CEO, Satyajit Gaekwad told the media that the consortium partners are about to bracket all the differences and, for the purpose, we would like to have some more time. He, further, stressed that we have not defaulted on any payment. We just like to have some more time as we are on the verge of resolving all the differences.


In the meantime, after the getting the letter of Kochi IPL consortium, BCCI president Shashank Manohar has summoned IPL Governing Council to meet at Nagpur to arrive at decision on the fate of Kochi Franchise issue.


"Who will take care of franchise affairs" is the cornerstone of dispute since the day joint venture was formed. The franchise was bought from Cricket Board for USD 333 million.


The investors include corporate firms Anchor Earth, Parinee Developers, Rosy Blue and Film Wave - who hold 75 per cent of the equity. The remaining 25 per cent has been given to the family of Gaekwads - Shailendra, his brother Ravi and their parents plus a few others, all part of the group of promoters - Rendezvous Sports World - as free equity for services rendered in successfully bidding for the franchise.


The legal team of the Cricket Board had been entrusted with the task of studying the letter which has been forwarded to Manohar.


Earlier, media reports claimed that Sunil Gavaskar had helped the consortium bag the franchise at the IPL auction.

BCCI on Sacking spree For IPL Franchise Owners

By BOB Goswami

INDIA NEWS - The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has now become a well-known adage for taking shocking decisions. From selection procedure to sacking of teams, the cricket fraternity gets shocking treatment one after another. Justifying its notoriousness, the BCCI has erased the name of Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) over ownership issues on Sunday. The decision has turned the peaceful Sunday of Shilpa Shetty and Preity Zinta into stormy.

Rajasthan Royal co-owner Shilpa grimaced, “ Shocked! what to say, just disheartened....Need to know the basis on which termination was taken.”

Rajasthan skipper Shane Warne reacted sharply and expressed his disappointment, saying the underdogs won the tournament and it was Rajasthan Royal who gave wings to IPL.

“I have not expected, shocked! Worked hard in making IPL a success story. Invested everything to build this team. The decision is cruel and brutal” tweets disappointed preity, Kings XI co-owner.

Moreover, the new kid on the block Kochi was asked to resolve its disputes as soon as possible and form a joint venture company, if it wants to continue in the post-Modi era.

The ex IPL commissioner cast an aspersion on BCCI’s decision. He tweeted, “The BCCI has shown its true colours, one set of rules for themselves and another set for the others…Members go to meetings and listen to Diktat of President and President elect. If you open your mouth you are thrown out”.

BCCI has pronounced its decision:

“The governing council of the IPL met to discuss and decide on the breaches committed by three of the franchisees, Punjab, Rajasthan and Kochi. It was unanimously decided that franchise agreements with Punjab and Rajasthan be terminated forthwith based on legal opinions obtained by the BCCI in the matters. It was further unanimously decided to issue a notice to Kochi calling upon them to resolve all their disputes and form a joint venture company which will hold the IPL Franchise rights.”

However, the board did not detail anything about the alleged breaches committed by franchise owners.

IPL shifts out of India, Sharukh says elections is a bigger issue

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE (IPL) NEWS: Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise owners today said that they don’t have any problem with the BCCI's decision to shift the Twenty20 (T20) League matches out of the country because holding the general elections was a bigger issue before the Indian government.

Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan who owns Kolkata Knight Riders said that he could understand the security constraints in holding the event during Indian elections.

He said after meeting IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi, "We have to respect the elections in the country. That is a bigger issue than our issue. By shifting the IPL abroad, we have tried to find a solution to the problem."

Sharukh Khan also added, "Off course the local buzz wouldn't be as strong as it is here but I guess elections will take care of the buzz."

When asked by the media that whether he would be there to watch all the matches featuring his team as was the case in the first edition then King Khan replied that it would depend on how the schedule pans out.

SRK also mentioned, "I will try to be there for as many matches as possible. Hopefully the schedule will help me."

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Preity Zinta, co-owner of King XI Punjab's also echoed Sharukh Khan's views and said that the general elections have to be given precedence.

She said, "As Shah Rukh said, we have to take elections into consideration. We have no problem with that"

Labels: IPL shifts out of India, Sharukh says elections is a bigger issue, Indian Election, Indian Premier League, IPL News, India News

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IPL dates not yet finalized even after meeting with Home Ministry

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE (IPL) NEWS: The Home Ministry’s meeting with the Indian Premier League (IPL) organisers today did not conclude with any decision on the dates of the T20 tournament, which is scheduled to be held in April and May this year.

The fate of the second season of IPL hung in balance with the Home Ministry which bluntly said to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that providing spare central forces for the Twenty20 tournament will not be possible.

The Home Ministry expressed concerns and limitations in providing para-military forces for the IPL because of the Lok Sabha elections in April and May.

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This was conveyed in a meeting of a three-member BCCI delegation with Special Secretary (Internal Security) Raman Srivastava.

The meeting was held for 90 minutes. BCCI Secretary N Srinivasan was asked to re-work out on dates of IPL matches in consultation with the states where the IPL matches are to be played.



IPL schedule might change due LS polls

Labels: IPL, Indian Premier League, India, Lalit Modi, BCCI

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