Mumbai: With Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Rajasthan Royals (RR) sidelined after Lodha committee’s judgement on the Indian Premier League (IPL) spot-fixing case that occurred in 2013, will the tournament see a new franchise in the next season? The spotlight could be on Kochi Tuskers Kerala (KTK), whose contract was terminated by the Board of Cricket for Cricket in India (BCCI) in 2011 due to breach of conduct.
Former BCCI president N Srinivasan had announced termination of KTK as they failed to provide a bank gurantee to cover the annual fee. The cricketers were bought by other franchises in 2012 and the ones who remained unsold had their payments through the team’s bank gurantee from 2011.
After the Lahoti report, the BCCI had been asked to pay Rs 550 crore to the defunct IPL franchise but Kochi wasn’t interested in the money anymore. They wanted the team to be fielded in the IPL in the next season.
On Tuesday, Supreme Court-appointed three-member committee – headed by former Chief Justice of India RM Lodha – declared suspension of Gurunath Meiyappan (considered the face of CSK) and Raj Kundra (co-owner of Rajasthan Royals) from all cricket matches and bringing disrepute to the sport. The panel also proposed suspension of CSK and RR for two years.
But the board said the players from the franchises in question are free to participate in the IPL. This sets the perfect stage for BCCI to make amends and even sort out differences with the Kochi franchise, which also starred the tainted S Sreesanth, and make an all new team.
"Players will not be attached to a franchise which has been suspended. We thought that if cricket is bigger than individuals then financial loss to players and franchises is not of significance," said Justice Lodha.
However, it remains to be seen which franchise pounces on the hot cakes that comprises Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Ajinkya Rahane, Pravin Tambe and the batch.
On the hindsight, CSK could have a new buyer too. They could also wait for the completion of two years till the suspension is taken off.
IPL 2016 could either bring a new beginning for the gentleman’s game washing the stains. KTK was captained by Mahela Jayawardene and also had players like Brendon McCullu, VVS Laxman and Muttiah Muralitharan.
