BCCI working panel meet on Oct 18, Pepsi issue on agenda

The BCCI said on Friday it will address the concerns raised by Pepsi, the title sponsor of its flagship tournament, the Indian Premier League (IPL). Media reports suggest the beverage giant has sent a notice to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) expressing its intention to withdraw from IPL due to the spot-fixing case.

The company has reportedly sent a notice saying the decision was because of the issues that have brought the game into “disrepute”. The controversy-ridden IPL hit a new low when the Supreme Court recommended suspending the franchises - Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings - for two years following an investigation into a betting and spot-fixing scandal. Pepsi paid around Rs.396 crore in 2012 for the title sponsorship between for a five-year period between 2013 and 2017.

“BCCI and Pepsico have had a long-standing cordial relationship. Pepsico has raised certain concerns with the BCCI,” the BCCI statement said. “BCCI has assured that steps will be taken to address the concerns and will work necessary solutions in the interests of the league as well as Pepsico.”

“As part of the process BCCI and Pepsico have been in amicable discussions and <g data-gr-id="21">further</g> update will be shared in due course,” it added.

BCCI plans to deliberate on the issue in its next working committee meeting in Mumbai on October 18. 

The earlier Working Committee meeting of August 28 was adjourned sine die after deciding to seek the opinion of the Supreme Court on whether N Srinivasan could attend the meetings of the BCCI as the authorised representative of Tamil Nadu Cricket Association in view of the conflict of interest issue. Shashank Manohar, who was elected last Sunday unanimously as the new president at the Board SGM after the sudden demise of incumbent Jagmohan Dalmiya on September 20, is expected to tell the members in detail about the slew of reforms he had announced at the media conference soon after being anointed as new chief.