Kochi Causes Worries for BCCI With Minister, Former Cricketer Links

 By Sreelata S. Yellamrazu

      There is only so much of the truth that can be dragged, twisted and manipulated. It appears in Kochi’s case, that ambiguity dominates their game and ironically plunders their own ambitions. It will be very interesting to see if BCCI can accord them more travesty than they claim to have copped. 
     Kochi’s game may be over even before it has begun. This is how speculation began before the BCCI AGM. And it is how it rests with less than twenty-four hours before the BCCI convenes yet another IPL governing council meet to decide the fate of the IPL team.

        Kochi have played their cards and it appears any more will only work against them. Take the case of Shashi Taroor and that of Sunil Gavaskar. That Gavaskar has been actively promoting the case for Kochi to come into the cricket bracket is not surprising. If anything, it only confirms early speculation that apart from the minister, there was a former Indian cricketer who was also backing the new IPL 4 team franchisee.

        However, in light of the news, as it comes just a day before the BCCI meet, there is still plenty of room for speculation in that Gavaskar’s role still remains something of a question mark. While Kochi claim that Gavaskar has been backing the Kochi franchisee without really stating at what point, Gavaskar himself claims he is considering the option of heading Kochi’s cricket operations. But there is still the lingering doubt if Gavaskar has had a deal like Taroor who perhaps thought of the ‘smart’ option to put Sunanda Pushkar’s name forward. Taroor played the ‘we’re just friends’ cards but no avail. As Kochi’s story began to unravel, so did his reality. His marriage to Pushkar materialized but Kochi continues to raise question marks.

       If Gavaskar is to be believed, then all is well. But if there is reasonable doubt, it could raises the nefarious question of conflict of interest wherein like N. Srinivasan for the Chennai Super Kings, board members are also involved financially in the IPL teams. The fact that it was hidden from the BCCI is perhaps why the teams associated with Modi through his relatives are finding it tough to draw a straight answer from the BCCI.

        Sensationally it was Kochi who took on Lalit Modi, with the blessing of Taroor, to suggest that the former IPL chairman and commissioner, had tried to bribe the franchisee to favour other bidders. But Kochi cannot be priding themselves any more because they have not needed the surreptitiousness of Modi to present a fractured, uninspiring and dubious future for their presence in the sport.

         One cannot see how the revelations of Gavaskar’s possible association is going to help Kochi win brownie points. If it does at tomorrow’s meet, it will perhaps be at the behest of the vested BCCI who may want to save themselves the trouble of throwing open the doors once more via auctions after already culling two teams – the Rajasthan Royals and the Kings XI Punjab – from the ring.