BCCI may not appeal HC ruling on IPL

Bombay High Court's ruling of shifting the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches from Maharashtra has put the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on a sticky wicket.

On one hand they are dealing with the Supreme Court on the Lodha Committee recommendations, on the other, the BCCI is put in a dock by the Bombay High Court's verdict yesterday.

Although BCCI's counsel Rafiq Dada was quoted as saying, "we'll see" when asked if the Indian cricket board will appeal the Bombay High Court verdict in the Supreme Court, sources in the BCCI have indicated that the order will not be challenged in the apex court.

The decision to go by the High Court's decision would be due to BCCI's ongoing battle in the Supreme Court on their reservations against Lodha Committee's recommendations and the Board might not be willing to take a chance on a sensitive issue like drought.

Time could be another reason why the BCCI might not want to move to the apex court as the tournament is already underway and the chances of the Supreme Court relief not coming in time are high.

The BCCI is in an overdrive mode already, readying the implementation of Plan B. While the three Nagpur matches of Kings XI Punjab might be relocated to their original home ground in Mohali, several state associations have expressed willingness to host Mumbai Indians and Rising Pune Supergiants ‘home' matches. Ranchi, Raipur and Indore are already being talked about as alternative venues. "We will inform the media when it is ready," a senior BCCI official told mid-day.

Sources indicated that the major hitch would be convincing the franchisees. "The two franchisees will lose a lot of fan base. Mumbai Indians have a very strong fan-following at the Wankhede Stadium which will be difficult to replicate anywhere else.

"Pune is a new franchisee and the local support, which they were banking on, will be seriously hit. Playing at another venue will definitely hurt their gate receipts. But the Bombay High Court has not left the BCCI with many choices," said a source.

Plan B
Ranchi, Raipur and Indore are being looked at as some of the alternative venues for the matches that will be moved out of Maharashtra.