No RCB II but Mallya confirms buying Barbados team
Ending weeks of speculation, Vijay Mallya has opened up and confirmed acquiring a team in the Caribbean Premier League (IPL). Speaking to Mirror on the sidelines of the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction here yesterday, the liquor baron said the Barbados team has been bought by him with the help of the local government and asserted that Royal Challengers Bangalore will remain with United Spirits.
“I’ve acquired the team. It is a joint venture if not exactly in the classical sense of the term. I will, of course, take a lead role and that is because I understand the Twenty20 competition,” Mallya said, confirming a report published by this paper on January 18. He has, however denied the possibility of naming it as Royal Challengers Barbados.
“It will not be RCB II. They have a name (Barbados Tridents) and I don’t want to tinker with that,” he said. There are different versions with regard to naming as Royal Challengers is a brand that belongs to Diageo-managed United Spirits but Mallya said the decision not to change the name is a move smacking of respect for local sentiments. “Trident is the national symbol of the country and so I don’t intend to change it,” Mallya clarified.
With Mallya’s entry, the six-team CPL has Indian connect in four sides. Shah Rukh Khan has already bought T&T, two Indians own the Jamaica franchise and St Lucia team also has Indian businessman on board.
Mallya was careful enough to point out he would not have to splurge money as he will have to deposit a franchise fee of about 2 million and pay the player salaries which is not much in the CPL. “It can be recovered as Kensington Oval in Barbados is one of the best stadiums in the Caribbean. The CPL history shows all games are full,” he said.
Mallya was not willing to talk about anything beyond CPL but when insisted on the recurring talk of RCB being of sold, he strove to hammer home a point. “Why are you getting into all that? RCB is owned by Royal Challengers Sport which is a subsidiary of United Spirits. I don’t need to clarify further.”
On Saturday’s auction, Mallya sounded gung-ho. “RCB was missing a solid all-rounder. We have filled that gap with (Shane) Watson and (Stuart) Binny,” he noted.
“I’ve acquired the team. It is a joint venture if not exactly in the classical sense of the term. I will, of course, take a lead role and that is because I understand the Twenty20 competition,” Mallya said, confirming a report published by this paper on January 18. He has, however denied the possibility of naming it as Royal Challengers Barbados.
“It will not be RCB II. They have a name (Barbados Tridents) and I don’t want to tinker with that,” he said. There are different versions with regard to naming as Royal Challengers is a brand that belongs to Diageo-managed United Spirits but Mallya said the decision not to change the name is a move smacking of respect for local sentiments. “Trident is the national symbol of the country and so I don’t intend to change it,” Mallya clarified.
Mallya said he sought the help of local government as the CPL revenue model is not economically viable. “There is no central revenue in the CPL as in the case of the IPL and the revenue stream is tickets and sponsorship. The numbers did not add up and the only solution was to go to the government. I met the prime minister of Barbados and he has promised all the support. Once the government came forward, I told the CPL that I’m ready. It is a joint venture of sorts,” he said elaborating his involvement. “Going forward, the CPL has said it will disburse central revenue and when it happens, it will be bonus.”
With Mallya’s entry, the six-team CPL has Indian connect in four sides. Shah Rukh Khan has already bought T&T, two Indians own the Jamaica franchise and St Lucia team also has Indian businessman on board.
Mallya was careful enough to point out he would not have to splurge money as he will have to deposit a franchise fee of about 2 million and pay the player salaries which is not much in the CPL. “It can be recovered as Kensington Oval in Barbados is one of the best stadiums in the Caribbean. The CPL history shows all games are full,” he said.
Mallya was not willing to talk about anything beyond CPL but when insisted on the recurring talk of RCB being of sold, he strove to hammer home a point. “Why are you getting into all that? RCB is owned by Royal Challengers Sport which is a subsidiary of United Spirits. I don’t need to clarify further.”
On Saturday’s auction, Mallya sounded gung-ho. “RCB was missing a solid all-rounder. We have filled that gap with (Shane) Watson and (Stuart) Binny,” he noted.
