No IPL opening ceremony, money to go to martyrs’ kin

New Delhi, February 22 

The IPL will not have an opening ceremony this year after the Committee of Administrators (CoA) decided to allocate the money set aside for it to the families of the CRPF personnel killed in the Pulwama terror attack. The opening ceremony of the T20 league is a heady mix of glitz and glamour with performances by Bollywood stars. However, as a mark of respect to the slain CRPF men, it has been decided to scrap the ceremony for the event’s 12th edition beginning March 23. “We will not have any inaugural function for the IPL and the money budgeted for it goes to the martyrs’ families,” said CoA chairman Vinod Rai after the decision was taken at a meeting here today. It was BCCI’s acting president CK Khanna, who had officially made the proposal to donate at least Rs 5 crore for the martyrs’ families. “I am very happy that CoA has taken a good call to donate the money for martyrs’ families. The entire budget allocated for the IPL opening ceremony is being donated for a noble cause. The amount is expected to be significantly more than Rs 5 crore,” Khanna said. It is learnt that 2018 IPL opening ceremony’s budget was to the tune of Rs 15 crore and something similar to that amount will be donated. Defending champions Chennai Super Kings will take on Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL opener on March 23. 

Davis Cup tour not doubtful, says AITA

Kolkata: India’s tour to Pakistan for the Davis Cup Group 1 tie is not doubtful and the All India Tennis Association has not requested for a change of venue in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack. There were reports that India might refuse to play the Davis Cup tie in Pakistan in September after the Pulwama attack. — Agencies