Players can't have stake in IPL teams: BCCI | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Players can't have stake in IPL teams: BCCI

PTI | By, New Delhi
Nov 13, 2007 09:01 PM IST

Reacting to reports earlier in the day about Sachin Tendulkar's apparent interest owning an IPL franchise, the BCCI say, current players cannot have a stake in any teams.

As it received an overwhelming response to the offer of franchise for owning cricket teams in the Indian Premier League, the Cricket Board today made it clear that no current player can have a stake in a company owning any of the teams.

HT Image
HT Image

The BCCI stand came in the wake of media reports that star batsman Sachin Tendulkar was in talks for a joint bid with the Future Group, which has expressed interest in becoming a franchisee of the BCCI's Twenty20 venture. However, the company itself maintained that reports about Tendulkar were mere speculation.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

"He is playing, so where the question of buying a team comes from? When someone is playing, how can he buy a team?" BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla, who is also a member of the IPL Governing Council, told 'Times Now'.

His views were shared by BCCI Joint Secretary MP Pandove who said, "Any player contracted with the Board can't have stakes in participating teams."

Shukla told reporters at the BCCI briefing that the IPL had received overwhelming response from companies.

"We will first decide the media rights for the league before taking up the issue if franchise. All I can say is that we have received overwhelming response," he said.

According to reports, industrialists Vijay Mallya and Anil Ambani were interested in buying franchise, as was Hollywood star Russell Crowe.

Lalit Modi, BCCI Vice President and the mastermind behind the high-profile league, however, refused to comment on the issue.

"I have no comments to make on media reports. Whatever clarifications we have to issue will be done at a later stage," Modi told PTI.

Future Group, which had sponsored the recent home series against Australia, confirmed that it was interested in buying one of the teams in the IPL but said reports of Tendulkar being a minority stakeholder were "purely speculative".

"Yes, we are interested in sponsoring a team in the IPL. However, we have not spoken to anybody or firmed up our plans as yet since we are still unclear about the structure and the format of the league," a Future Group spokesman said.

Unveiling Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!

Get Current Updates on India News, Election 2024, Arvind Kejriwal News Live, Bihar Board 10th Result 2024 Live along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On