Interests of Kochi players will be protected, says Shukla

Interest of the players contracted with terminated IPL franchise Kochi Tuskers Kerala will be protected, assured the league’s new boss Rajiv Shukla who also promised to make the cash—rich event more attractive by bringing in “new ideas and elements.”

Mr. Shukla said protecting the players affected by Kochi’s ouster is the primary concern for the IPL authorities, and that the Governing Council will meet in the second week of October to discuss all issues related to the termination.

“Our prime concern will be the players’ interest, their interest is not hampered in terms of financial loses, and also in terms of their participation in the tournament,” Mr. Shukla told PTI in an interview here.

“If these players are re—auctioned for some other franchise, and if they are paid less in the new franchise, we will compensate them,” he explained.

Kochi Tuskers Kerala, a team introduced only last year, that constantly hit the headlines for its ownership dispute, was terminated from the IPL after failing to pay its annual bank guarantee.

The termination leaves players contracted with the franchise such as Mahela Jayawardene, Indian pacer S Sreesanth and spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan without a team and an uncertain future.

“The status is that on the issue of non—payment, Kochi has been terminated as per the agreement between the franchise and the BCCI. They were supposed to pay the bank guarantee… they have gone to the court, and the court didn’t give them any relief, and the BCCI is entitled to encash the bank guarantee,” Mr. Shukla said.

“We have to protect the interest of the players also. So after the termination of this franchise, now nine teams are left. The whole matter will go to the Governing Council, and they will take a view if we should go for one more team or if we should stick to nine teams. I am okay with both the plans, and whatever the council decides, we will go by that. We have a plan for each situation,” Mr. Shukla added.

Mr. Shukla, however, ruled out any immediate possibility of a new owner coming in to take over Kochi.

“No, now if any decision is taken, it has to be on the basis of a new bid,” he said.

Mr. Shukla, also the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, is looking forward to the new job of running a league that has redefined Indian cricket.

Talking about the enormity of running an event, which has of late been at the centre of financial rows, Mr. Shukla said, “The IPL has been facing various challenges, and that is how it has come up and now talked about all over world. This is one tournament which is recognised, so such things will always be surrounded with challenges.”

“Since the responsibility has been assigned to me, I have always taken up such challenges, and I would like to bring new elements to it. By next month, there should be a road map and we would add further elements and make it more attractive. But at the same time, the whole idea is not to sacrifice the sanctity of the game. It is going to be an interesting tournament,” he said.

Mr. Shukla said a new plan is being prepared to jazz up the league, which was the brainchild of its now sacked Commissioner Lalit Modi.

“The idea is to add new elements, without disturbing the current set-up. We will be talking with the franchises also. We are going to have close interaction with the franchises, and there ideas will also be solicited,” Mr. Shukla revealed.

“We will be consulting with some other experts also, and after that some value addition will be done,” he said.

With accusations of financial bunglings, and now the termination of a franchise for defaulting on payments, Brand IPL is not in the best of times, but Mr. Shukla insisted that the damage is not big.

“I don’t think (all this has affected brand IPL) because the whole thing is transparent, and the decisions are being taken by the governing council. If you find anything not according to our rules and regulations or according to our contracts, we will take action. So we are neither meting out any injustice to anyone nor are we compromising with the provisions of IPL,” he said.

Asked whether having 10 teams, now reduced to nine, makes the tournament a tad too long, Mr. Shukla said, “Eight team tournament was also doing well, but at the same time the BCCI working committee felt two teams should be added. Keeping that in mind, two teams were added and after that it worked well, so let’s see what impact it has now that there are nine teams.”

Mr. Shukla said as IPL chairman he would keep a low profile like his predecessor Chirayu Amin.