To Suspend or Not to Suspend Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals is the Question: Is BCCI in a Spin?
The RM Lodha committee's proposal to suspend Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals from the IPL will dominate Friday's BCCI working committee meeting. Chennai's petition in the Madras High Court could drag the case longer than expected.
Legal issues could scupper the Board of Control for Cricket in India's efforts to find a clear roadmap for running the Indian Premier League. With Chennai Super Kings taking their proposed two-year suspension to Madras High Court, the BCCI has to first clear legal hurdles before consigning two former champions sides -- Rajasthan Royals is the other -- to the backburners. (Chennai Super Kings' Petition Challenging Suspension to be Countered by BCCI)
The BCCI's all-important working committee will meet in Kolkata on Friday to discuss the way forward for IPL. In the presence of N. Srinivasan, it will not be easy to uphold RM Lodha committee's proposed suspension to the letter. Srinivasan will represent Tamil Nadu and the ex-BCCI boss, who virtually had the Board at his command for almost seven years, may not be left in the cold. (Chennai Super Kings' Suspension Shocking: Fleming)
The BCCI is a cozy club and in an organization where there are no permanent friends or enemies, ruthless decisions are not easy to make. The BCCI's working group has mulled a few options to provide a roadmap for IPL after the Lodha panel slapped suspension orders on Chennai and Rajasthan. The IPL governing council met on Thursday night to prepare its final report to the working committee. Will the council really hurt the former champions?
From floating tenders for two new sides to financial institutions running the 'tainted' Chennai and Rajasthan teams have been heard. There have even been suggestions to have an IPL qualifier with new franchises. The possibilities are many. IPL will almost certainly remain an eight-team affair.
The Madras High Court will hear Chennai's petition again on September 23. On Thursday, the judges refused to give any interim relief to CSK but said it will wait for BCCI's decision.
It may be pertinent to mention that the Supreme Court had ordered that the Lodha panel's report was "binding on the BCCI." Hence it may not be easy for CSK to get a reprieve. While two new teams look the easiest way forward, any decision by the working committee will surely come with its terms and conditions. The idea is not to hurt Chennai and Rajasthan in the long run.