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The Indian cricket board took a drastic step on Sunday in deciding to “terminate” the franchise agreements with Rajasthan Royals and King’s XI Punjab while serving another notice and imposing a fresh deadline of 10 days on the new Kochi franchise to resolve ownership disputes among its promoters.
The decision, taken at an emergency meeting of the IPL governing council in Mumbai, has thrown the IPL’s fourth edition, due to be held next year, into turmoil. Great uncertainty is in the offing since the franchises whose 10-year contracts have been terminated are almost certain to seek legal redress. And once courts in various jurisdictions begin passing orders, doubts are certain to creep into whether this hugely popular league can start as scheduled soon after the 2011 World Cup is over.
If things go according to the BCCI’s plans, IPL-4 may still see eight teams playing in the old format of home and away games before the semi-finals and final — provided that the Kochi team is able to sort out differences among the owners and promoters that were said to be irreconcilable.
“It was unanimously decided that the franchise agreements with K.P.H. Dream Cricket Pvt Ltd (Kings XI) and Jaipur IPL Cricket Pvt Ltd (Rajasthan Royals) be terminated forthwith based on the legal opinions obtained by the BCCI in the matter,” the Board of Control for Cricket in India said in a release. “It was further unanimously decided to issue a notice to the unincorporated joint venture holding the Kochi franchise calling upon them to resolve all their disputes and form a company which will hold the IPL franchise rights. Accordingly, P.R. Raman, advocate for the BCCI, has been given instructions to issue all three notices,” the BCCI said.
“I am quite shocked about the developments. I don’t know how IPL-4 will be held if the BCCI starts treating teams in this manner. I am not in a position to make any further comments until I receive a formal copy of the termination agreement. Obviously, I will be seeking legal opinion in this matter,” Rajasthan Royals co-owner Raj Kundra told a television channel.
BCCI president Shashank Manohar justified the IPL governing council’s decision, saying: “As I have been (saying) all this while about the Rajasthan franchise... They had a different bidder during auctions. The agreement was entered in the name of a different company. The shareholding patterns were different, and then the shares were transferred to different people without the permission of the governing council.”
Reacting on his Twitter page, legendary spinner Shane Warne said: “3 seasons ago royals won the first ever ipl, underdogs come good what a story, it helped give credibility to the competition!!! Now look...” He further wrote: “The royals gave young unknown Indian players a chance and I as captain backed them, and our coaching staff supported them ... we were a team.” Added Warne: “What now for the youngsters, I hope bcci come to (their) senses, fingers crossed!”
Royal Challengers Bangalore owner Vijay Mallya wondered on Twitter if the IPL owners were the “slaves” of the BCCI. “Were they not serious business investors,” he asked.