IMV-BCCI contract issue: Srinivasan says rooted to the crease

The Board of Control for Cricket in India's top brass continued to remain under severe pressure after its decision to terminate their contract with the International Management Group (IMG) as logistic partners for the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Following franchisee owners expressing displeasure over the BCCI's decision without consulting them, it came to light yesterday that former BCCI President Sharad Pawar, under whose regime the IPL was formulated, also wrote to BCCI head Shashank Manohar expressing his displeasure and disappointment.

"I am very disturbed to hear about the termination of IMG contract by the Honorary Secretary BCCI (does not mention his name). Reading the contents of the termination I feel this unilateral move by the BCCI will put the BCCI in jeopardy. Not only will this lead to a prolonged legal battle but it will also show us in bad light in public," Pawar wrote to Manohar on a Mumbai Cricket Association letterhead on Sunday, a copy of which is in possession ofu00a0 MiD DAY.

Meanwhile, Multi Screen Media Private Limited, the owners of MAX which has the IPL broadcast rights, and the Royal Challengers Bangalore also joined six other franchisees to express their displeasure over scrapping of the IMG deal. This leaves only Chennai Super Kings, owned by Srinivasan, as the only team not to have expressed their displeasure over the issue. Srinivasan was not available for comment.

Stressing on "continuity," Pawar pointed it out that the renegotiated details of the IMG deal (Rs 33 crore annual fee to be paid to IMG) were tabled by N Srinivasan, the Honorary Secretary, in the Finance Committee. The minutes of this meeting were approved by the Working Committee on January 3.

Peace please
"I am told that this matter was again raised at the last Governing Council meeting of the IPL and some members again suggested we should come to a suitable arrangement with IMG. Further, I understand issues regarding IPL were also being raised in the last working committee meeting of the BCCI and you rightly told the members that the working committee is not the right forum for the same and they should raise the same at the next AGM," Pawar added. He brought it to Manohar's notice that he got calls from some of the franchise owners citing displeasure over BCCI's planned move.

"I want to bring on record my views and I hope you and the BCCI will take the right decision in the overall interest of the BCCI."

With Pawar making his displeasure known, it would be interesting to see how the IPL Governing Council meeting pans out in Mumbai today.