IPL will go ahead as per schedule, stresses CoA

The Committee of Administrators (CoA) on Wednesday confirmed that the 10th season of Indian Premier League (IPL) will commence as per schedule on April 5 while the existing processes for availing the services and appointment of vendors will continue.

“The IPL 2017 season will commence as scheduled from 5th April 2017. The IPL operational timelines for 2017 season will be communicated shortly by the BCCI/IPL management team,” a media release stated.

“The Committee of Administrators (CoA) met the concerned BCCI officials today to take stock of the urgent and important matters mainly concerning the successful conduct of IPL 2017,” it said.

E-mail controversy

Meanwhile, it has emerged that the BCCI Joint Secretary Amitabh Chaudhary sent an e-mail on the decisions taken by the CoA on Tuesday to Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA), which moved the Supreme Court on Wednesday on one of the issues dogging the Board.

The e-mail contained the minutes of the first meeting COA, headed by former CAG Vinod Rai in Mumbai. The meeting was attended by four-member COA, the CEO Rahul Johri and treasurer Aniruddh Chaudhary.

Once the decisions were taken and minuted, BCCI CEO Johri, as per protocol, e-mailed each of the five people present.

Amitabh Chaudhary received a copy from treasurer Aniruddh which clearly stated that CEO would convene the selection meeting and it also categorically mentioned that Vikram Limaye will attend the Finance and Commercial Affairs (F&CA) meeting apart from the Board meeting.

Subsequently the contents of the meeting was forwarded to the official account of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association treasurer.

“I will not like to comment on the issue as it is sub-judice matter,” TNCA treasurer Narsimhan replied to a query.

A section in the BCCI has questioned as to how a confidential email that was sent by the CEO has been forwarded to a state cricket body “which has no business or locus standi” in the decisions taken.

“Aniruddh had sent the email to Amitabh so that he is aware about the developments and his current position. But it is still not clear as to what business Amitabh had when he decided to forward the CEO’s confidential mail to the official email account of Tamil Nadu CA treasurer. Not a great move I must say,” a former office-bearer of BCCI told PTI.