(Eds: Updating after making correction in para 11)By Amit Kumar DasNew Delhi, Dec 7 (PTI) BAI president Himanta Biswa Sarmafeels the next three editions of the Premier Badminton League(PBL) will be crucial as the lucrative league is likely tomake profit only after the fifth year.
"The agreement between the Licensee and BAI is for 10years and we had initially calculated that the league wouldn'tbe profitable till fifth year," Sarma told PTI.
"So now our agreement with Star TV will come for renewalon the fifth year and only there after the league will beprofitable. This is the third edition and so another two yearsthere will be a bit of challenge. So for next two yearsprobably we will have to be a bit defensive."Sarma, who was appointed the interim head following thesudden demise of former president Akhilesh Das Gupta in April,also reiterated that the pending court cases with SportySolutionz will have no bearing on the PBL 3, starting onDecember 23.
"BAI's dispute with Sporty Solutionz is strictly limitedto claims and counter claims. I think franchises shouldn'tfeel anyway disturbed or demotivated that some litigation isgoing on. It is an old litigation," he said.
Sporty Solutionz had sought a stay on the PBL till theissue is settled and the hearing is scheduled for December 11.
Sarma said: "Last time also they asked for a stay.
Normally in arbitration case court decides on the claim andcounter claim in terms of money.
"As far as staying is concerned, Courts don't normallyinterfere and last time also they asked for a stay and courtdidn't give. I strongly believe this time also the occasionwill not arrive," he added.
The eight-team league currently has only six franchiseowners, with the Delhi and Mumbai teams being governed by theBAI's governing council for now.
Sarma said: "This time we have increased the number ofteams to eight and out of them, franchises have acquired sixteams. Delhi and Mumbai are with SportzLive, but I think thesetwo also will be sold, it is in the process of selling.
"Teams of Delhi and Mumbai will play in the league butwhen they will have a franchise, that is a decision to betaken by SportzLive. We have given that mandate to them.
Whether these teams will be sold or not sold, we will not comeinto that picture," he added.
After the resounding success of the Senior NationalChampionship in Nagpur last month, Sarma said he will bemeeting the players during the inauguration of PBL and IndiaSuper Series in Delhi to decide the schedule for the nextedition of the event.
"Next year during the Delhi Super Series, I will get achance to meet all the players and we will decide the slot.
The players are committed to play. It was decided that theywill have the meeting among themselves and let us know theschedule. So during the PBL inauguration and Delhi Superseries, I am going to meet them," he said.
There were some criticism regarding the timing of theNationals which was held ahead of the China Super SeriesPremier and Hong Kong Super series.
A few players such as Ajay Jayaram and Pranaav JerryChopra were injured during the tournament, while KidambiSrikanth had aggravated a leg injury during the SeniorNationals.
"Srikanth had told me at Nagpur before the tournamentthat he is not playing at China since he was playing back toback tournaments. So that was pre-decided but regardingPranaav and Ajay's injury I am not aware," he said.
"Nagpur stadium is a superb stadium, players can getinjured even abroad. That hazard is always there but this timeno injuries reported linking it to Nationals. Playingnationals in more important, otherwise we will not get nextgeneration of players," he added. PTI ATK CMATK.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.