Game over

The Board of Control for Cricket in India decided to stir things up a bit in its 83rd annual general meeting with the introduction of an item under the special mention. It was on the IPL franchise Kochi Tuskers Kerala. A few minutes after the start of the AGM at 12 noon, the news started trickling out of the BCCI headquarters that KTK had been terminated. It was later confirmed by the new BCCI president, N. Srinivasan. “Because of irremediable breach committed by the Kochi franchise, the BCCI has decided to encash the bank guarantee in its possession and also terminate the franchise.”

The Kerala-based franchise, owned by a consortium of multiple owners called Rendezvous Sports World, had had a jinxed journey since it won the bid in March 2010 for $333.3 million. There had been many casualties—while the first IPL commissioner Lalit Modi lost his job for tweeting details of the consortium, Union minister Shashi Tharoor had to quit the government after a row over his friend, now wife, Sunanda Pushkar owning sweat equity in the consortium.

Then came several notices and termination threats from the BCCI to corporatise the consortium, which it somehow managed. The franchise’s bank guarantee, worth Rs:156 crore, was encashed. It was supposed to renew it (for the next season) by March 26, 2011. Despite many notices KTK allegedly failed to do so. In April 2010, the BCCI working committee rejected demands from KTK and Sahara Pune Warriors, another franchise, for a reduction in franchise fees. The two new franchises had sought a 25 per cent waiver because the BCCI had reduced the number of matches from 18 mentioned in the bidding document to 14.

The existing bank guarantee, which was for 2011, was encashed by the BCCI as it would have lapsed on September 26, 2011. This has been disputed by Mukesh Patel, chairman, Rendezvous Sports World. “The BCCI notice is wrong prima facie. We have never defaulted,” he said. Though the franchise took the issue to court seeking an interim relief from the BCCI encashing its bank guarantee, the Bombay High Court rejected the petition.

Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajeev Shukla, who is the new chairman of the IPL governing council, said the decision was taken keeping the players’ interest in mind. “We will soon convene the meeting of the governing council where the matter will be discussed. We don’t want players to suffer as they are contracted with the team for two years. It’s our responsibility to take care of them.”
Despite the legal setback it remains to be seen whether it is the end of the road for KTK. Two other IPL teams, Kings X1 Punjab and Rajasthan Royals, had also faced axe but managed a last-minute legal reprieve in the 2011 edition.