In an urgent meeting, the IPL governing council has decide to eject the Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan Royals franchisee from future editions of the Indian Premier League. The cash rich league league’s governing body has decided to terminate the two franchisees on account of transgression of shareholding and ownership norms. The council provided a breather to the third accused Kochi team, and let them go after stern warning.
The decision was taken in Mumbai on Sunday October 10th, after five days had passed since the assigned date to respond to the council’s notice. Business baron and Rajasthan Royals co-owner, Raj Kundra made sure to the media that he would challenge the council’s decision in court. Coincidentally, both Rajasthan and Punjab franchisee had been earlier accused and found guilty of having ousted IPL chairman, Lalit Modi as a secret partner.
BCCI President, Shashank Manohar said that the BCCI is now contemplating and considering the available possibilities. The league now reduced to eight teams, might continue with its old format or might think of inducting two new teams.
Even before stepping on the ground Kochi franchisee would have seen its last days in the League, but was saved from termination as the council declared that it hadn’t violated any norms but was suffering from internal disputes. Kochi now has ten days provided by BCCI and IPL governing council to solve its disputes and form a joint venture company or it might risk termination.
Vijay Mallya, owner of Royal Challengers Bangalore, commenting on the treatment meted out by the council to the IPL franchisees said, “This is downright ridiculous and raises serious questions on the attitude of the BCCI toward IPL franchisees” on his official Twitter page.
Sunday’s meeting was the first for the reconstituted IPL governing council with Chirayu Amin as the head of matter after the controversial ouster of ex Chairman Lalit Modi.
Tags: BCCI, Cricket, IPL, IPL Franchisees, Kings XI Punjab, Kochi, KXIP, Raj Kundra, Rajasthan Royals, RR, Vijay Mallya