CHENNAI:After over three months of speculation, the future of the Indian Premier League (IPL) became clear on Sunday with the BCCI announcing that two new teams will be included in place of Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals. The good news for fans of these teams is, they will be back after serving two-year bans imposed by the Justice Lodha Commission. It wasn’t immediately clear whether the event will have eight or 10 teams from 2018.
The decisions were made at the BCCI working committee meeting in Mumbai, where it was disclosed that Chinese mobile phone manufacturer Vivo will replace Pepsi as IPL’s title sponsor. It was also announced that the Lodha Commission report will be implemented fully, ruling out fears that the suspended teams are in for further punishment. It’s in accordance with BCCI president Shashank Manohar’s assurance that no one will be victimised.
Image makeover of the establishment following the IPL scandal was also on the agenda and the BCCI said it has appointed PWC as independent auditor to monitor how the affiliated units are using its huge annual grants. It has also hired accounting firm Deloitte to undertake ‘Project Transformation’, aimed at better governance. It was learnt that Manohar insisted that restoring the credibility of BCCI and IPL in the eyes of the public is priority.
In continuation of this drive, the BCCI is also contemplating changes in the constitution. There are talks that the zonal rotation system in electing the president will be scrapped and the president won’t be allowed more than one term. Members are apprehensive that these rules may draw adverse remarks from the Lodha Commission, which is expected to submit its report on BCCI’s ways of functioning in December. It seems the BCCI is keen to set its house in order before that.
Transparency drive ■ Names of players, umpires receiving monthly gratis and amount, those paid one-time benefit and amount to be on site ■ Medical scheme for retired players, umpires to be uploaded ■ All payments of over Rs 25 lakh made by BCCI to be put up |
A look at the important decisions made at the BCCI working committee meeting on sunday Chinese Sponsor after severing ties with Pepsi, BCCI has assigned Vivo mobiles the IPL sponsorship right; Vivo, a Chinese company, has to give the bank guarantee in the next 10 days CSK, RR Future Justice Lodha Committee interim report will be fully implemented. Two franchisee teams CSK and RR to remain suspended for two years Two New Teams board will float tenders and invite bids for two new teams to replace CSK & RR in the Indian Premier League for 2016 and 2017 (2 years) BCCI AGM the Annual General Meeting of the cricket board will be held on November 9 (Monday) at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai Fund Utilisation Board has appointed independent agency PricewaterhouseCoopers to monitor the utilisation of funds provided by BCCI to State associations New Norms BCCI rules on conflict of interest and amendments to the Rules and Regulations of the Board are being proposed for consideration at the AGM |