BCCI may scrap CSK de-merger
Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) de-merger is going to be the main issue at the BCCI working committee meeting here on Sunday. The franchise was valued at a meagre Rs 5 lakh as India Cements transferred its control to a trust in February this year. But the present dispensation of the cricket board under president Jagmohan Dalmiya and secretary Anurag Thakur wants to have a re-look at the whole affair.
According to a source, the valuation was “weird” and there’s a serious possibility the de-merger could be scraped. Former BCCI president N Srinivasan’s rivals in the cricket board appear to be up in arms and they will be in majority at Sunday’s meeting.
Discarding the de-merger will mean restoration of the status quo with India Cements owning CSK. And now that the Supreme Court has struck down the amendment to Rule 6.2.4 of the IPL, Srinivasan can’t be a BCCI administrator if he owns a franchise.
Before amendment, the BCCI clause 6.2.4 read: “No administrator shall have, directly or indirectly, any commercial interest in the matches and events conducted by the Board.” After amendment, it became: “No administrator shall have, directly or indirectly, any commercial interest in any of the events of BCCI, excluding IPL, Champions League and Twenty20.”
In its landmark judgment on January 22, the apex court had said: “If the purity of the game is undermined, then the essence of the game will be lost. Rule 6.2.4 is unsustainable and illegal.”
“This is going to be a major issue. They valued CSK at Rs 5 lakh and accordingly Srinivasan paid a transaction fee of Rs 25,000 (five per cent) to BCCI. But how can a franchise that has been paying a licence fee between Rs 32 crore to Rs 40 crore to the cricket board every year and spending so big on players’ contract and remuneration, be valued at Rs 5 lakh? The working committee is likely to refer the matter to BCCI’s legal cell and based on its advice, the members will decide the future course of action. Also, then (BCCI) secretary (Sanjay Patel), who gave the go-ahead for a de-merger, could be questioned,” a former BCCI vice-president told The Sunday Express.
Among other issues, ex-Delhi police chief Neeraj Kumar’s proposed appointment as a consultant to BCCI’s Anti-Corruption Unit is likely to be discussed, for there could be a conflict of interest angle to the story. Up on the agenda is the future of the Champions League T20. The members will also discuss the Essel Group promoting various websites in many cricket-playing nations. BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur got an update in this regard at the ICC chief executives’ meeting. He will elaborate it before the working committee.
Former BCCI presidents Sharad Pawar and Shashank Manohar, are also expected to attend the working committee meeting on Sunday.
Head coach on agenda
BCCI is going to discuss the appointment of a new head coach for the Indian cricket team in its working committee meeting to be held here on Sunday. An announcement in this regard, however, is unlikely at the moment.
With the cricket board being inclined to appoint an Indian coach as Duncan Fletcher’s successor — his term ended after the World Cup — Sourav Ganguly, it is learnt, has emerged as a top choice. In fact, he appears to be the only candidate, according to a source. The working committee is likely to discuss his candidature. – ENS
