Indian Premier League Deliberately Targeted: Rajeev Shukla

Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Rajeev Shukla on Saturday said the cash-rich Twenty20 tournament is a global brand which is being "deliberately targeted".

The Bombay HC order has ordered to shift IPL matches out of Maharashtra owing to water crisis.

"I won't say it is a conspiracy but whoever comes just hit the IPL. There were 24 matches that happened in Maharashtra just last month during World T20 matches. Nobody raised any issue. Why is the IPL being deliberately targeted?" Shukla told NDTV.

"IPL has become a global brand. After FIFA, it is the largest which is being broadcast in 182 countries. It is easy to bring it down. IPL always attracts publicity. there are a lot of news related to IPL, that's why people think that they should go after IPL," he added.

Shukla said they are ready to do whatever is in their hand to resolve the water crisis but said shifting of matches is surely not a solution.

"For the water issue, we are willing to do whatever we can. Will the shifting of 3-5 matches solve the problem? This is a much bigger problem. Solution is not shifting IPL matches," he said.

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) on Friday moved Supreme Court against Bombay HC order to shift IPL matches out of Maharashtra owing to water crisis.

"Mumbai Cricket Association is the affected party, they have approached Supreme Court, so we are waiting for the verdict," Shukla said.

To a question, he said: "Shifting of IPL next year is up to the governing council which will decide whether to move it out of India or not.

"It becomes very difficult for sponsors as they don't know what to do."