BCCI to bar Kochi, Rajasthan Royals from IPL 4?

Mumbai:

BCCI President Shashank Manohar has summoned an emergency meeting of the IPL Governing Council on Sunday in Mumbai to discuss appropriate action against three IPL franchises - Kochi, Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab.

Kochi's deadline to submit paperwork with regard to its franchise expires on Friday. According to information from sources, both Kochi and Rajasthan - may be barred from participating in IPL 4.

The BCCI in recently held Annual General Meeting (AGM) had issued show-cause notices to the new Kochi IPL franchise and to the Shilpa-Shetty-co-owned Rajasthan Royals and Priety-Zinta-co-owned Kings XI Punjab IPL for alleged irregularities.

The new Kochi franchise had been told to incorporate a company as soon as possible as the bid had been given to individuals and no legal entity had been incorporated.

The Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) had earlier in the month decided to initiate talks with owners of the Kochi IPL franchise on October 7 here to sort out various issues plaguing the controversy marred team. (Read: KCA to initiate talks with Kochi IPL team owners)

A consortium of owners, including Rendezvous Sports World had won the Kochi IPL franchise in March with a bid of Rs 1530 crore.

Controversy had dogged the new team following a spat between former Union minister of state for External affairs Shashi Tharoor and Former IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi over the ownership of Rendezvous Sports world (RSW).

Sunanda Pushkar, now wife of Tharoor, had held 18 per cent free equity in the RSW and had returned it after the controversy broke out and Tharoor resigned.