IPL Betting Scandal: BCCI Might Terminate Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals

Recnet developments in this issue has infused a new twist in the entire IPL controversy which might be a huge set back for the fans of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals. On August 29 the IPL governing council will deliberate on the Lodha committee judgement taking into account the report from the working group and legal team. It’s the Indian Premier League so why have foreign teams? Apart from them Harsh Goenka of the RPG Group (a central sponsor), broadcasters MSM India and Star TV also met with the working group. For now, only two franchises are against the idea of a fresh auction for new franchises as they believe the exit of RR and CSK will erode the brand value of the cash-rich league.

Rajeev Shukla said that all the franchises have spoken in favour of an eight-team tournament. As per the verdict both the teams can not participate in IPL for next two years, at the same time, both are free to challenge the same in the court.

It is understood that the owners of the teams, whom the working group has been meeting over the last five days, have been asked about their views on the punishment awarded to RR and CSK by the Lodha Committee.

Inviting two foreign teams is also being considered although Ness Wadia, a co-owner of the Kings XI Punjab team, said he would not prefer that. “There won’t be value erosion”.

The BCCI working group met three franchise owners, central sponsors, broadcasters and all other stakeholders in the IPL at a suburban hotel in Mumbai on Saturday. However, in another development, the board might also appeal in court against the Kochi Tuskers arbitration.

It is still not clear how two new teams will be selected. The KXIP owner is of the view that “sponsors will begin to lose faith in the running of the league if there is no stability”. Ness Wadia was pretty vocal against the suggestion that foreign teams should be allowed to play. This move, looked upon as one of the various image-cleaning efforts of franchise cricket in India, has not gone down well with the teams’ ardent supporters. “Inviting foreign teams is not the only options before us”. The Champions League was discontinued because there are no takers for these foreign teams. Wadia believes bringing in two new teams at this juncture will be the most apt thing to do.