Chargers move HC, seek stay

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), on Saturday decided to add a new team for the coming IPL season as Deccan Chargers’ franchise holders moved Bombay High Court against their termination.

The Chargers issue was discussed at length at a BCCI  working committee meeting here during the day, but the BCCI refrained from openly speaking about the issue as it is sub-judice.

The BCCI will await the courts’ ruling on the franchise’s participation in the sixth edition of the tournament.

In the High Court, where the Chargers sought a stay on Friday night BCCI decsion to terminate its franchise, the counsels of both the sides were present.
The Court, however, did not pass any order staying the termination. The matter has now been placed for hearing on Monday.

“In view of the matter being sub-judice, we have not taken any decision today. We will discuss about floating a fresh tender for a new IPL team,” a top BCCI official said on condition of anonymity. He said the BCCI has made up its mind not to have Chargers in the IPL but in case they get a favourable verdict from the court, they could be included as the 10th team. “We will definitely add a new team in the sixth edition of the IPL from among the waiting franchises. If DC is not there we will go ahead with nine teams but in case we are forced to include them it would be a 10-team affair,” the official said.

The official said the working committee members were apprised of the developments concerning Chargers and the general impression was that the cash-strapped franchise should be kept away from the IPL. The official said the Chargers told the BCCI that they would form a team to run the franchise for one more year till it resolves its financial problems.

According to the official, for the new team, eight cities will be in fray when the bidding takes place.

The winning bidder will have to accomodate the Deccan players for one year if the franchise is ultimately scrapped from the IPL.