No Threat of Sponsors Withdrawing From Indian Premier League: Chairman Rajeev Shukla
Indian Premier League chairman Rajeev Shukla-led four member committee has six weeks' time to study Justice Lodha panel's verdict on 2013 corruption scandal and draw a roadmap for the future of the cash-rich league.
The BCCI's four-member working group, formed to study the Justice Lodha panel's verdict relating to the Indian Premier League 2013 corruption scandal, on Monday met for the first time to discuss the way forward for the cash-rich league's next edition and said the sponsors were fully behind the Board. (Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals' Fate in BCCI's Hands: RM Lodha)
The Board had given the committee six weeks' time to draw a roadmap for the IPL after the Justice Lodha committee suspended the owners of the Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals Gurunath Maiyappan and Raj Kundra while banning the franchises for two years last month. (Sreesanth Discharged in Indian Premier League 2013 Spot-Fixing Case)
"We have started meeting all the stakeholders from today. Today the representatives of Yes Bank came and met the members of the working group. Yes Bank is one of our sponsors. Similarly we will meet other sponsors and also speak to them about how to make IPL 9 a success," IPL Governing Council Chairman Rajeev Shukla, who is also heading the working group, said. (IPL Spot-Fixing, Top-10 Developments)
After this round in Delhi, the working group will move to Mumbai. (BCCI Officials to Sign No Conflict of Interest Undertaking)
"In Mumbai we plan to meet at least four franchise owners. We have set the ball rolling. We have to discuss all the possibilities about new teams and future of players," he added. (IPL Scam: 'BCCI Scared of Banning Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals)
Asked if the sponsors are wary because of the controversies surrounding the T20 tournament, he said "Absolutely not. Sponsors are fully behind us. They are bullish." (IPL Not Dragging its Feet on Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals Suspension)
On the contentious issue of conflict of interest, Shukla said, "Our president has also issued a statement. All required steps will be taken.
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Asked if the Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals will need to pay franchise fee during the two years that they are suspended, he said, "No, they don't need to pay anything. Neither do they pay anything to us nor do we have to pay anything to them. (MCA Not to Appeal Ankeet Chavan Ban)
The working group comprises Shukla, BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur, treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry and IPL governing council member and former captain Sourav Ganguly, and will be assisted by Usha Nath Bannerjee, the Board's legal counsel. All of them were present in today's meeting."
Asked about the working group's views on having two new teams for IPL, Shukla said, "We don't have any views right now. Once we talk to all stakeholders we would then put forward our viewpoint."