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BCCI’s ‘Mini IPL abroad’ idea surprises franchise owners

The IPL franchise owners learnt from the media about BCCI's decision to go ahead with the idea of Mini IPL abroad.

BCCI President Anurag Thakur announced that a Mini IPL will be held in September © IANS
BCCI President Anurag Thakur announced that a Mini IPL will be held in September © IANS

The Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise owners were in for a surprise on Friday morning after they learnt from the media that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has planned a Mini-IPL tournament overseas in the month of September and that it will be annual affair as well. Ever since the scrapping of the loss-making Champions League T20 tournament, the BCCI had been contemplating on hosting a shorter version of the IPL abroad. On Friday, during the last day of the BCCI working committee meeting in Dharamsala the idea was discussed at length and the BCCI decided to go ahead with the plan. But the IPL franchise owners had no clue of it until the media reported of the developments. ALSO READ: BCCI’s 4-day conclave ends: Anil Kumble’s appointment, Mini IPL and other topics discussed

The BCCI had been busy with its own issues including the Lodha Committee report and the case itself in the Supreme Court after the IPL spot-fixing scandal came to light. But now that it is again talking about the Mini IPL concept, after it came up with the idea a few months back, it needs to discuss it with the franchise owners regarding it. “We have no clue. All we know is what the media’s reported,” said two franchise officials, as quoted by TOI, while another franchise owner had no hint about it either. “What’s that?,” said the franchise owner. ALSO READ: BCCI plans to change its name

The franchise representatives feel that if the BCCI is indeed serious about holding a Mini IPL abroad, it needs to convey about it to the team owners about terms of finances, operations, player availability, player fees etc. The feeling among the stake holders is that the BCCI is trying to attract broadcasters and ignoring the owners.

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