BCCI to take final call on Chargers on Sept 15

 The Indian cricket board’s (BCCI) working committee decided to take a final call on the fate of the IPL franchisee, Deccan Chargers on September 15 in Chennai.

The working committee met here in the capital on Tuesday to discuss finding a prospective buyer as the current owner, Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited (DCHL), has been under financial stress and is unable to pay the salaries to the players.

“There are a lot of legal implications due to which we have not been able to take a concrete decision today at the meeting. The matter will again come up for discussion at a working committee meeting on September 15 in Chennai,” a senior working committee member told PTI.

It has been learnt that all the committee members have unanimously agreed and requested the BCCI president N Srinivasan to sort out the ongoing mess regarding the Hyderabad-based franchisee.

“Some of the members have suggested that the Board might issue an advertisement in the newspapers inviting bids from the prospective buyers. These bids will remain close till September 15 which is the time alloted to the franchisee to clear some amount of its financial liability.

“If it fails to do so by September 15, then there will be an IPL Governing Council meeting where the members will be apprised about the franchisee being up for sale and later on the same day, there will be a working committee meeting where the matter will be passed,” another working committee member, prefering anonymity, informed.

According to the senior BCCI officials, the Board is looking at a buyer who will at least agree on paying the players’ dues from the last edition of the IPL.

In case, the BCCI do not get a buyer who is ready to shoulder a part of the liability, then the BCCI will encash the bank guarantee and pay their dues.