By Sreelata S. Yellamrazu
And the saga of IPL 4 2011 continues to drag its feet. The latest in the line of controversies has more to do with the subject matter of the termination of two teams than the equally turbulent swing revolving IPL player retention ahead of the IPL 4 auctions.
The BCCI agreed to an arbitration after the matter involving the termination of the Rajasthan Royals was placed before the Bombay High Court. However, while the Indian cricket board assumed it as a matter of formality in keeping with the original agreement, it did not expect that the arbitrator, former justice BN Srikrishna, would put IPL 4 plans on hold with his decision.
The BCCI agreed to an arbitration after the matter involving the termination of the Rajasthan Royals was placed before the Bombay High Court. However, while the Indian cricket board assumed it as a matter of formality in keeping with the original agreement, it did not expect that the arbitrator, former justice BN Srikrishna, would put IPL 4 plans on hold with his decision.
By putting a six week stay on termination, it has complicated matters as opposed to resolving issues. While it gives the Rajasthan Royals the opportunity to participate in the player auctions, what it does not confirm is the feasibly of the Rajasthan Royals joining back into the IPL as a franchisee. In the event that there is yet another twist to the story following the six week process, what happens to the players and the process as a whole.
While the BCCI has suggested it was only going by the book, what they would not want is undermining their own judgement which is why they will feel it imperative to immediately seek recourse via the court once more. For long, the BCCI has failed to entertain the Rajasthan Royals with an elaborate explanation to as why the Kings XI Punjab and the Rajasthan Royals were unceremoniously dumped apart from the suspicion of undisclosed association with the former IPL chairman and commissioner, Lalit Modi. Now the reinstatement of Rajasthan Royals will be nothing short of a mockery of the BCCI’s original decision that will suggested vested intentions that have long been speculated upon.
It is for this reason that if the BCCI has fought off the pleas of these teams for an audience, their reasons for doing so must continue on if the BCCI is desirous of maintaining a consistent stand on the issue. Besides, by complicating matters, there will be more trouble for the BCCI should the team get the opportunity to be a part of the process but not materialize at the time of the IPL 4. The matter needs a conclusive resolution, not further suspension of time and decision.
The problems with the Kochi franchisee and the BCCI's decision to arrive at a conclusion of matters by the 5th of December has already put in doubt about the feasibility of having a eight team tournament as opposed to the original plans to expand the 2011 edition to ten teams. The awkwardness of the situation is not lost on the BCCI. It will be interesting how they approach the simultaneous twists and turns in the matter of the IPL franchisees.
No comments:
Post a Comment