CSK, RR to stay off IPL until 2018; two new teams to replace them
Mumbai, October 18
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) will return to the Indian Premier League after their two-year suspension ends in 2018, the BCCI decided at a meeting of its Working Committee meeting on Sunday. Instead, two new teams will replace them until their return to the tournament.
The BCCI will invite bids for two new teams for the next two editions of the game — 2016 and 2017.
"It has been decided that two new teams will replace the two suspended teams — Chennai and Rajasthan — for two years. Bids for the two new teams will be invited for two years only. The decision regarding the teams will be passed in the upcoming annual general meeting and after the AGM tenders will be brought in for the two teams," BCCI chairman Rajeev Shukla told reporters. BCCI will hold its Annual General meeting on November 9.
However, whether the two new teams will continue to remain part of the tournament after 2018 will be decided after 2017.The decision is believed to have been taken after most members of the BCCI Working Committee wanted the two franchises to remain in the tournament.
The two teams were suspended by the Justice Lodha Commission in June for two years for the involvement of their officials in match fixing in Indian Premier League’s 2013 edition.
Chinese mobile firm Vivo new IPL title sponsors
Chinese mobile giant Vivo will now be the title sponsor for Indian Premier League. Vivo replaces PepsiCo, which recently pulled out of the cash-rich tournament.
"The IPL title sponsorship right has been assigned to Vivo mobiles. Vivo is to give the Bank Guarantee in next ten days,” the BCCI said in a statement.
Media reports claim that PepsiCo decided to terminate its five-year contract with the controversy-ridden IPL prematurely after allegations of match fixing in the tournament's 2013 edition and its diminished credibility made the beverage giant increasingly uncomfortable, although the conglomerate has neither confirmed nor denied these speculations. PepsiCo’s $71.77 million (approximately Rs 396 crore) sponsorship was to end in 2017.
Among its other decisions, the board has decided to retain Nike as the Indian cricket team's apparel sponsor.
The BCCI has also decided to make revival of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) a priority and is already considering a proposal by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB).
"Revival of the National Cricket Academy as the centre of excellence is the top-most priority of the BCCI. The board will look at the lands offered by KIADB. MP Pandove (NCA chairman), Rajeev Shukla, Anirudh Chaudhry (BCCI treasurer) and Amitabh Choudhary (BCCI joint secretary) will inspect the lands offered by KIADB and finalise the deal within one month," the board's statement said.
Lodha Commission, appointed by the Supreme Court in January, had, apart from suspending the two teams, banned two people associated with the teams — Gurunath Meiyappan, principal of the Chennai team, and Raj Kundra, co-owner of Rajasthan Royals — from commercial cricket activities for life.
Three cricketers — Ankeet Chavan, Ajit Chandila and S Sreesanth — were arrested for spot fixing in the same edition of the tournament, although they were later discharged by a court.
Previously, real estate firm DLF bought the title rights for the tournament for Rs 250 crore. — PTI
