CSK, RR not to be terminated; BCCI to bring in 2 new teams

Taking the first step towards laying out a fresh roadmap for the controversy-marred Indian Premier League, the BCCI on Sunday decided to float tenders for two new teams to replace the suspended franchises of Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals, which will return to the cash-rich league in 2018.

At its working committee meeting here, the Board decided not to terminate CSK and RR, both of which are currently serving a two-year suspension recommended by the Supreme Court-appointed Justice R M Lodha committee for their involvement in the 2013 IPL spot-fixing scandal. Sunday’s decision by the BCCI will make the next two IPLs an eight-team affair.

However, the BCCI did not clarify whether IPL will be a 10-team affair from <g data-gr-id="64">2018,</g> when CSK and RR will come back to the fold.

“IPL Working Group had made four recommendations out of which one recommendation has been accepted by the BCCI working committee. The two vacant slots (created by CSK and RR) should be auctioned for two years. After that, we will decide whether to go for two more franchises or we should confine IPL to eight teams,” IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla said after the meeting.

Asked if new franchises will be from Chennai and Jaipur, Shukla said:”City preference is not there as the highest bidder will get to choose.”

Among other important decisions taken at Sunday’s meeting, the Board has scheduled its Annual General Meeting for November 9. The BCCI said it will invite fresh bids for two new teams, which will be competing from 2016 onwards to complete the eight-team format of the Twenty20 event.

The Working Committee’s decision was strictly in lines with the suggestions of the IPL Working Group, which comprised IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla, BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur, former India captain Sourav Ganguly and treasurer <g data-gr-id="63">Aniruddh</g> Chaudhary.

“The Justice Lodha committee interim report will be implemented fully. The two <g data-gr-id="58">franchisee</g> teams, Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals remain suspended for two years.

BCCI will float tenders and invite bids for two new teams to replace CSK & RR in the Indian Premier League for 2016 and 2017 (2 years),” the BCCI said in a statement.

<g data-gr-id="71">Majority</g> of the BCCI members were not too keen on termination of the two IPL franchises, which were involved in the spot-fixing scandal in 2013. 

The BCCI top brass has always maintained that it would implement Lodha Committee’s 

recommendations in toto and since the Supreme Court appointed committee had suspended for two years, the Working group also stuck by it.

The decision was also in consonance with president Shashank Manohar’s statement that BCCI won’t be vindictive towards any of its state units.

In their bid to bring in more transparency and accountability on financial fronts, the BCCI decided to update the names of all the former players and umpires, who are receiving <g data-gr-id="68">monthly</g> pension from the parent body.

Also, as per Manohar’s declaration, expenditure in excess of Rs 25 lakh will also be put up in board’s website.

“The names of the players and Umpires receiving monthly gratis from the BCCI and the amounts. Names of the players who have been paid <g data-gr-id="66">one time</g> benefit from the BCCI and the amount,” the release stated.

Information on Medical Benefit Scheme for retired cricketers and umpires will also be available on bcci.tv.

Other decisions that were taken and ratified at Sunday’s meeting included starting the Treasurer’s Office operations from the BCCI Headquarters here at the earliest.

Besides, “M/S Gokhale & Sathe has been appointed as the internal auditors of the BCCI. They replace M/S P.B <g data-gr-id="62">Vijayragahavan</g> & Company. The Board has appointed M/S Deloitte for ‘Project Transformation,” the BCCI stated.

The BCCI also appointed Price Water House Cooper as the independent agency for due diligence on 

the utilisation of funds provided to the state associations.

“The BCCI rules regarding Conflict of Interest and the amendments to the Rules and Regulations of the Board are being proposed for the consideration at the AGM,” it added.

The Board said it was also looking to revive the National Cricket Academy.

“As proposed by the president, the revival of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) as the centre of excellence is the top most priority of the BCCI. Board will look at the lands offered by KIADB. Mr. MP Pandove (Chairman NCA ), Mr. Rajeev Shukla, Mr. Anirudh Chaudhry (Hon.Treasurer-BCCI) and Mr. Amitabh Choudhary (Joint Secretary BCCI) will inspect the lands offered by KIADB and finalise the deal within one month.”