HC extends IPL's deadline for signing up 4 star players

Mumbai:

The Bombay High Court on Friday extended the deadline for the IPL franchisees to sign up their respective "marquee" players till December 8.

The High Court passed the order during the hearing of petitions filed by Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab against termination of its contracts by the Cricket Board (BCCI).

Each IPL franchisee can sign up four players from its earlier season's squad. The BCCI had set a deadline of December 6 for submitting list of signed up marquee players.

Kings XI on Thursday said that deadline must be deferred, because at present players would not be willing to negotiate with it, since the franchise's contract with BCCI stands terminated.

Rajasthan Royals has secured a stay on its termination of from independent arbitrator Justice B N Srikrishna, which the BCCI has challenged before the High Court.

Kings XI, on the other hand, could not get relief in arbitration, as Justice Srikrishna recused himself.

BCCI terminated contracts with Kings XI and Rajasthan Royals on the ground that both franchisees changed their respective ownership patterns without informing the board.

Refuting this charge, senior counsel Darius Khambata on Friday argued that Lalit Modi, "who was the face of IPL", was aware of changes in ownership of Kings XI, and he consented to them, when actor Preity Zinta, one of the share-holders of Kings XI, intimated him about it.

BCCI's lawyer said that cricket body did not accept copy of Modi's endorsement on which Kings XI was relying. Arguments would continue on December 6.