How Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals can Still be Terminated From Indian Premier League

The worst may still be to come for the two suspended IPL franchises- Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals. The emergency IPL governing council meeting on Sunday may take their first steps towards banning CSK and RR from the IPL for life. (CSK, RR's Suspension Opens IPL Window for Corporate India Biggies)

The reason behind the termination will be clause 11.3 of BCCI-IPL franchise agreement which clearly states: 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. (IPL Scam: Top-Ten Development)

Both Chennai and Rajasthan have been found guilty on these counts by the Mukul Mudgal-led panel and subsequently punished by the Lodha committee. ('Fans Have Been Cheated, Cricket's Purity at Stake')

So why did the Lodha committee not invoke this clause and ban the team in the first place? (The Rise and Fall of the Indian Premier League Brand)

Justice RM Lodha told NDTV, "We have been appointed as a disciplinary committee and 11.3 deals with contractual obligation and that has to be dealt by BCCI, so we can't go into it

Simply put, the BCCI is free to follow its own rules, and in this case, the rule allows for both teams to be terminated. (IPL Without Dhoni Will be a Tough One: Gavaskar to NDTV)

Justice Lodha further added, "It is for BCCI to consider terminating the teams and the Supreme Court judgement is clear on that. BCCI can do that" (Sourav Ganguly Hopes The IPL Recovers From Betting Scandal)

A closer look at the options in front of the BCCI suggests, that terminating CSK and RR may be best, or perhaps the only choice left for the BCCI:

SIX TEAM IPL?

A six team IPL is not possible because of the nature of the contract between the BCCI and the broadcaster which dictates that a minimum of 60 matches need to played in a season. Six teams in a season would only result in 34 matches.

TWO NEW TEAMS FOR 2 SEASONS?

To get new bidders for two new teams to play just two seasons of the IPL, while CSK and RR cool their heels, will also not be a financially viable option for any new player to enter the IPL market.

TWO NEW TEAMS PERMANENTLY?

Adding two new teams permanently would mean that after two years, when CSK and RR return, IPL will end up having 10 teams; this will alter the revenue model drastically and will not go down well with the rest of the IPL teams.

BCCI TO MANAGE SUSPENDED TEAMS?

Another option could be that the BCCI takes the two suspended teams under its wings and manages them for two season. However, with conflict of interest being the central theme of this entire mess that BCCI finds itself in, the board would unlikely exercise this option.

Terminating Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals and subsequently putting two new IPL teams up for sale would also sort out the issue of what to do with the players of the two suspended franchises. Emergence of two new teams will allow the likes of MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, R Ashwin and Ajinkya Rahane play under a brand new owner and name, albeit from the same city or another.

(With inputs from A. Vaidyanathan)