Kochi IPL gets 30-day lifeline

The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Wednes-day gave the Kochi IPL franchise one last chance to remain in the tournament, by setting it a deadline of 30 more days to resolve its internal squabbles. Amol Karhadkar reports

The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Wednes-day gave the Kochi IPL franchise one last chance to remain in the tournament, by setting it a deadline of 30 more days to resolve its internal squabbles.

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Meeting in Nagpur to discuss the issue, the BCCI’s IPL Govern-ing Council said if Kochi failed to sort out its problems in time, its franchise would be cancelled.

Within a month, the Kochi IPL group will have to register the company that will run the cricket team. Naturally all disputes relating to ownership and control of the team will have to be worked out before that.

Six entities together own the Kochi IPL franchise. The dispute has arisen due to the resentment of the other entities over the free equity of 25 per cent provided to the promoter and sixth owner – Rendezvous Sports World – as well as the dominance in Kochi IPL affairs that RSW has so far enjoyed.

"We discussed both the replies given by Rendezvous and the other group. And the Board felt that the dispute between them still exists," BCCI president Shashank Manohar. "Therefore, the governing council has given them a 30 days' notice. In case they don't remedy the breach committed by them within 30 days, the franchise would stand cancelled on the 31st day."

The 30 days are a bonanza for Kochi IPL. While submitting separate replies to the BCCI’s show-cause notice on October 20, both the factions had sought a 10-day extension to arrive at a consensus.

"The 30-day extension is more than enough for us to sort out minor indifferences that still exist," said Satyajit Gaikwad, chief executive officer or Rendezvous Sports World, the promoters.

"We are sure we will complete the necessary formalities well before the deadline."

KCA plea to franchise
Kochi: The Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) appealed to all the partners of the consortium to bury their differences and come out with a concrete proposal as early as possible.

"This is a life line from the BCCI and this the maximum the board can do," said KCA Secretary T C Mathew.

"The franchisee should sort out their disputes soon so that we will have an IPL team."