Mumbai : The Working Group set up to look into the implementation of the findings of Lodha Committee report on IPL spot-fixing scandal on Saturday met representatives of Mumbai Indians and KXIP co-owner Ness Wadia, who stated that he is not in favour of inviting foreign teams to fill the void.
“After the Lodha Committee report, we are looking at how the IPL is being continued. We are taking advice from all the stakeholders. We had two meetings in Delhi and we had one in Mumbai where we met the remaining franchises of MI, KXIP and Sunrisers Hyderabad. Besides, we met both the broadcasters Sony and Star, sponsors CEAT,” Shukla said. Wadia told reporters that “Perception of league should change and this is a massive opportunity for the turnaround. I also want stability as key investor. So many uncertainties are there.”
Wadia also made it clear that he does not want advocate the idea of foreign teams playing in IPL. “I am not in favour of inviting two foreign teams to fill in the gap. Why will someone come to see a foreign team play?”
Shukla, on his part, said that every stakeholders’ suggestion is important. “We spoke to all of them about what to do after the Lodha Committee suspended two teams for two years. We made it clear that the Lodha Committee report will be implemented in toto. Instead of these teams, what will we do, whether other two teams will be brought in or not and how. All these we discussed with the franchises,” he said. “They gave their views, they gave good advice. We will collect all these advice together, discussed among us (Working Group) and prepare a report. We have been given six-week time till August 31 and we will submit the report within the stipulated time.”
Shukla further said, “We have taken the advice but we will take a decision. The report will be sent to the IPL GC,” he said, adding that the Working Group may submit the report before deadline also. “We have met all the franchises, including Vijay Mallya. We are now left with meeting with Pepsi and Vodafone. We will meet them in Delhi on Monday and Tuesday.”
Asked if termination of CSK and RR was an option still, he said, “We discussed several issues but there was not much discussion on that (about termination). There is a legal ramification on that and it was not recommended by Lodha Committee
report also.” —PTI
