Jaipur blacklisted for IPL, Ahmedabad to host RR games
What’s the first significant step of Sunil Gavaskar, the new figurehead of the Indian cricket board? Unsurprisingly, he has toed the establishment line - one that pleases N Srinivasan - as it was revealed yesterday that the BCCI has blacklisted Jaipur as a centre for the Indian Premier League (IPL). Why? The BCCI/IPL has not given any statement but the obvious reason is the emergence of Lalit Modi from the Rajasthan Cricket Association (IPL).
No match has been allotted to the SMS Stadium in the Pink City; and Ahmedabad, instead, has been chosen as the home for the Rajasthan Royals.
A significant factor is the role of Gavaskar in the whole affair. The new interim chief of the IPL has not managed to remain immune to the politics in the BCCI and went on the establishment line. Shivlal Yadav, the interim president of the BCCI, said the question should be addressed to Gavaskar, who could not be reached for a comment. Nor was Ranjib Biswal, the chairman of the league, available.
The decision didn’t come as a surprise to many. “With no proper functioning association in place, the BCCI may have had no option but to shift the matches out of Jaipur,” Sanjay Dixit, the former president of the association, said. The mantle of overseeing the functioning of the association rests with the erstwhile RCA management, headed by former union minister CP Joshi. But locals say he has abdicated the responsibility to the association.
The internal wrangling in the BCCI has forced Rajasthan Royals to move their base to Ahmedabad. The Royals will now play their four possible home rounds at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera. The matches have been scheduled for May 5 (RR vs KKR), May 8 (RR vs SH), May 15 (RR vs DD) and May 19 (RR vs MI).Rajasthan Royals officials were not available for comment.
Meanwhile, the IPL has announced the schedule for the India leg of the tournament which will start on May 2 in Ranchi. MS Dhoni’s hometown has been made the home of Chennai Super Kings who will play two matches there - on May 2 (vs KKR) and May 13 (vs RR).
Among other developments, Cuttack has been given two matches, which will host the home games of Kings XI Punjab - on May 7 (vs CSK) and May 11 (vs KKR). Dharamshala does not get a match this year. There have been no matches scheduled for May 16 and 17 because of the counting. The first two play-off matches will be held in Chennai. The final two will be staged at the Wankhede.
MODI BLASTS RAMAN
Lalit Modi censured IPL’s COO Sundar Raman for Rajasthan losing out on Jaipur matches. Modi said on Twitter: “So @ramansundar get out of your fixing mode. Try and do the right thing that u were used to doing when I hired u, before it's too late.”
No match has been allotted to the SMS Stadium in the Pink City; and Ahmedabad, instead, has been chosen as the home for the Rajasthan Royals.
A significant factor is the role of Gavaskar in the whole affair. The new interim chief of the IPL has not managed to remain immune to the politics in the BCCI and went on the establishment line. Shivlal Yadav, the interim president of the BCCI, said the question should be addressed to Gavaskar, who could not be reached for a comment. Nor was Ranjib Biswal, the chairman of the league, available.
Modi, banned by the BCCI for misappropriation of funds, is widely understood to have won the RCA elections a couple of months ago but the results are locked in a legal litigation. The Supreme Court is hearing the case but the BCCI has already conceded in the court that Modi may have won the election.
The decision didn’t come as a surprise to many. “With no proper functioning association in place, the BCCI may have had no option but to shift the matches out of Jaipur,” Sanjay Dixit, the former president of the association, said. The mantle of overseeing the functioning of the association rests with the erstwhile RCA management, headed by former union minister CP Joshi. But locals say he has abdicated the responsibility to the association.
The internal wrangling in the BCCI has forced Rajasthan Royals to move their base to Ahmedabad. The Royals will now play their four possible home rounds at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera. The matches have been scheduled for May 5 (RR vs KKR), May 8 (RR vs SH), May 15 (RR vs DD) and May 19 (RR vs MI).Rajasthan Royals officials were not available for comment.
Meanwhile, the IPL has announced the schedule for the India leg of the tournament which will start on May 2 in Ranchi. MS Dhoni’s hometown has been made the home of Chennai Super Kings who will play two matches there - on May 2 (vs KKR) and May 13 (vs RR).
Among other developments, Cuttack has been given two matches, which will host the home games of Kings XI Punjab - on May 7 (vs CSK) and May 11 (vs KKR). Dharamshala does not get a match this year. There have been no matches scheduled for May 16 and 17 because of the counting. The first two play-off matches will be held in Chennai. The final two will be staged at the Wankhede.
MODI BLASTS RAMAN
Lalit Modi censured IPL’s COO Sundar Raman for Rajasthan losing out on Jaipur matches. Modi said on Twitter: “So @ramansundar get out of your fixing mode. Try and do the right thing that u were used to doing when I hired u, before it's too late.”
