BCCI should give equal importance to all IPL teams: Warne

Visakhapatnam:

Australian spin legend Shane Warne was disappointed with BCCI's decision to throw away two Indian Premier League teams, including former winner Rajasthan Royals, and feels the Board should give equal importance to all the teams of the Twenty20 League.

"With the IPL exceeding all expectations, on all fronts, I find it staggering that the IPL has decided to throw 2 teams out... Why? Is it because the franchises have done something wrong or is there something sinister behind it? Is there an ulterior motive?" Warne wrote on his blog.

"To me the IPL must be transparent, open, honest, and, above all, fair to all teams! They need to treat them equally; no teacher's pets!!!!" captain of the Rajasthan team said.

The Indian Board recently suspended Rajasthan and King's XI Punjab from the IPL for violating ownership norms.

"Our owners went into owning a franchise with the betterment of Indian cricket in mind. They built a team of young, promising local talent and recruited a couple of us senior international players to mould them into a team.

"We entered the first year as complete underdogs. People were suggesting we wouldn't even win a game! But we built a great culture and the young guys came on in leaps and bounds and we ended up winning the title!" Warne said.

"It was an amazing achievement. I am sure no-one in the squad will forget the feeling, we were all so proud of each other. I would have to rate it right near the top of all my cricketing experiences and achievements," the leg-spinner added.

Warne said not only the IPL, India's domestic cricket also enjoyed the benefit of the winning culture of the team.

"From that squad, several international careers were launched, and that is what domestic cricket is all about. How can anyone say the Royals haven't got cricket's best interests at heart!" he wrote.