New Delhi/Mumbai, October 10
Two glamour-laden Indian Premier League teams---Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan Royals --- have been made to pay a heavy price for their perceived proximity to ousted league chairman Lalit Modi by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) today.

At the first meeting of the reconstituted IPL Governing Council in Mumbai, Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab teams were terminated from the IPL for what it called “violation of the franchise agreement". It also served a notice to the newly formed Kochi team to resolve all their disputes within 10 days.

A top source revealed that the real reason for the ouster of both teams from the IPL-IV was their “proximity” to Lalit Modi, as some top brass in the BCCI believed that Modi had stakes in both the teams through some front men (and women).

“The Governing Council sought legal opinion and came to the conclusion that the contracts of Jaipur IPL Cricket Pvt Ltd (Rajasthan Royals) and KPH Dream Cricket Pvt Ltd (Punjab Kings XI) franchises need to be cancelled for the violation of the franchise agreement,” BCCI president Shashank Manohar told reporters in Mumbai.

While Rajasthan, led by Shane Warne, had star players like Greame Smith and Shane Watson, Punjab had players like Yuvraj Singh, Brett Lee, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene among others. The termination of the IPL contracts of King’s XI and Rajasthan Royals, however, is unlikely to affect the future of the players contracted by these clubs, as their three-year contract with the clubs had in any case ended on September 26, and they would be put for open bid in the auctions coming up later.

A BCCI source said one of the two new franchisees, Kochi Rendezvous, (the other being the team owned by Sahara), have been issued notice to sort out “their internal disputes” or face action. It is learnt that former Union Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Taroor, who lost his ministership for his involvement in winning the bid for Kochi, is playing the role of peacemaker to sort out the differences among the stakeholders. The BCCI had given a loud hint about neutralising all Modi’s men (and teams) when Sunil Gavaskar was removed from the IPL Governing Council, now headed by Chirayu Amin. The realpolitik of the board also played a big role in the sacking of King's XI and Rajasthan Royals, as the top brass of the BCCI was keen to win over former BCCI and ICC president Jagmona Dalia to ensure the smooth election of present secretary N Srinivasan as the next board president.

Dalmia had blamed Lalit Modi and IS Bindra of Punjab for his witch-hunt and his removal from the board. The BCCI, which recently revoked the ban imposed on Dalmia --- who continues to be a big force in Bengal cricket, being the president of the Cricket Association of Bengal --- was keen to ensure Dalmia’s support for Srinivasan. The board feared that Dalmia could field his friend and former board president AC Muthiah against Srinivasan. So, it was hardly a surprise when Dalmia emerged out of the BCCI meeting today sporting a big smile. The spokespersons of both teams expressed “complete shock and surprise” at the IPL Governing Council decision. A majority stakeholder in Rajasthan Royals, Raj Kundra, better known as husband of actress Shilpa Shetty, is reported to have told a television channel that “they will take legal action” against the BCCI decision. Shilpa Shetty tweeted that she was shocked by the decision. “I am very shocked. I have not received any letter… I need to know the basis of the action,” she said. Shetty was joined by industrialist Vijay Mallya, who owns the Royal Challengers Bangalore team. “I wonder if IPL franchisees are serious stakeholders whose investments and participation are respected or are they slaves who only come and play?” Mallya said in his message on Twitter. The BCCI charge was that the bids of King’s XI and Rajasthan Royals were made by different parties and the ownership pattern turned out to be different. The IPL Governing Council wasn’t told about it.

The probe being conducted by the Enforcement Directorate and the Income Tax Department about the source of funding of King's XI and Rajasthan Royals, and their ownership pattern, has only emboldened the Board to act against the two teams.

The BCCI president denied that the cancellation of the two franchisees had anything to do with Modi.

Lalit Modi told a television channel that it was up to the lawyers of Rajasthan Royals and King’s XI to react. “I have no concern. I am in no way concerned with these franchisees”, 
he added.

For IPL, it means less glamour

The IPL-IV is scheduled to take place immediately after the ICC World Cup in April-May next year. It was to be a 10-team competition, but the fresh development means that the tournament, which had proved to be a financial and starry bonanza for world cricketers, is likely to be an eight-team affair. However, the fate of the newest franchisee, Kochi, would be known before the tournament.

Players safe, to be put up for auction

The termination of teams’ contracts is unlikely to affect the future of the players contracted by these clubs, as their three-year contract with the clubs had in any case ended on September 26, and they would be put for open bid in the auctions coming up later.