Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals' Fate Hangs in Balance as IPL Mulls Options

The Indian Premier League Governing Council, headed by Rajeev Shukla, will get into a huddle on Sunday to plan the next course of action for the suspended franchises - Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals.(IPL Scam: Top-Ten Development)

A Supreme Court-appointed three-member panel under Justice RM Lodha suspended Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals on Tuesday, as punishment for betting activities of high-ranking officials Gurunath Meiyappan and Raj Kundra during IPL 2013. The two individuals have been banned for life from all cricket matches.(CSK, RR's Fate in BCCI's Hands: RM Lodha)

The Clause That Could Nail CSK and RR

While RM Lodha-led panel's suspension comes as a blow to two top sides of the cash-rich league, the BCCI could spell further doom. The clause 11.3 (c) of BCCI-IPL franchise agreement gives the Board the power to terminate the two franchises completely.('Fans Have Been Cheated, Cricket's Purity at Stake')

According to the clause, the IPL franchise agreement can be terminated if: The Franchisee, any Franchisee Group Company and/or any Owner acts in any way which has a material adverse effect upon the reputation or standing of the League, BCCI IPL, BCCI, the Franchisee, the Team (or any other team in the League) and/or the game of cricket.(Chennai's Suspension Harsh: Top BJP Leader)

Three-Way Options for BCCI

The IPL Governing Council and the BCCI will have to work overtime to come up with a hassle-free blueprint for the way forward in the IPL. They have the following three options:(Bishan Bedi Slams BCCI, Says IPL Isn't About Principles but Only Profits)

1) New Bids, New Teams

The Board can uphold the Lodha committee verdict and keep both - Chennai and Rajasthan - out of the IPL for two years. To ensure the IPL remains an eight-team tournament, two new teams can be brought in through a tendering process. Once CSK and RR serve their two-year suspension, they can return and IPL can be a 10-team affair.(The Rise and Fall of the Indian Premier League Brand)

Pros and Cons

- This option will work out well as two of the top teams of the tournament will not be totally out of the picture.

- A complete player auction in 2018 - the year CSK and RR return after serving the suspension - provides the requisite level-playing field as far as team composition is concerned.

- A ten-team tournament would mean the unofficial window for the tournament will have to be extended, causing trouble to international calendar.

- All IPL players are on one-year contracts. Hence, all CSK and RR players can go under the hammer next year. While this situation will be favourable to the two new franchises, the existent ones with complete squads may not be in agreement with it.

File photo of Rajasthan Royals.

© BCCI

2) Ban CSK, RR for Life

The Board can take the opportunity to set an example against corruption and take the extreme step of terminating the two franchises in question, using the clause 11.3 (c) of BCCI-IPL franchise agreement.

Pros and Cons

- On the face of it, the decision sounds like a strong message sent to those with corrupt intentions in a league that involves a lot of money.

- There is a lot riding on the commercial value of a star-studded team like Chennai Super Kings and their termination will not sit well with the investors.

- IPL's fan base can be adversely hit by this drastic step as both Chennai and Rajasthan are fan favourites all over the country.

- This move will invite more legal hassle as the two franchises are bound to go to court against such a decision.

3) BCCI Takes Control of CSK, RR

The Board also has the option of suspending the management of both the franchises and taking control of the teams by assigning responsible officials for the job for the duration of the suspension. Some reports suggested that the likes of Sunil Gavaskar and Rahul Dravid could be approached for it.

Pros and Cons

- If reputed ex-cricketers are handed such a role, faith could be restored among the fans with respect to the two sides.

- The biggest problem of such a move could be the rise of conflict of interest issue as IPL is a BCCI-owned tournament.

Options for CSK and RR Players

The Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming has spoken out after the Lodha verdict, saying the players will not be hampered as their contracts are on a year-to-year basis.

"It is my understanding, if Chennai wanted to keep them (the players), they would have the choice of being retained or going back in the auction. You would imagine if the franchise wasn't playing for two years the players would opt to go back into the auction. The players will be fine. They will be well looked after," Fleming said.

Who Said What

- RM Lodha: If cricket is bigger, financial loss to players or franchises is not important. We feel that our decision will uphold the paramountcy of the game. This is an institutional view.

- Rajeev Shukla: We are always concerned about IPL and let me assure you the next edition will be a bigger success. IPL is a robust product and this judgement (suspension of teams) should not affect IPL as a product. The idea is to have the tournament in full format with a minimum of eight teams. We can't hold the event with six teams.

- Rahul Dravid: It is disappointing that sometimes actions of one or two people can have an impact on so many people. Generally, in a situation like this, it is the bottom of the pyramid who are the most affected. Generally, the top players, coaches always find stuff to do after that. It is not difficult for top players of our team to be picked by other teams.

- Raj Kundra: Today is a very depressing and sad day for me as my integrity is being questioned. Despite no evidence against me, I have been pronounced guilty. My support to the probe seems to have back-fired.

- Stephen Fleming: I got to know him (Gurunath Meiyappan) over the years. This (IPL betting scandal) happened two-three years ago and when it all came out, it was a shock.

The stage is set for the IPL Governing Council to make a decision on the way forward. Will they go all-out to terminate the two erring teams? Or will CSK and RR still get another lifeline? An interesting Sunday awaits.