Thaindian News

By Juhan Samuel

Kochi (Kerala), Oct.4 (ANI): The Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) appears now resigned to losing the Kochi IPL owing to the various controversies the franchisee is facing, but has decided to give it one last shot by holding talks with Rendezvous Sports World, the owners, on October 7.

“All the team owners have been invited for the talks and they have promised to come,” KCA President T R Balakrishnan said.

Balakrishnan said he was optimistic that all issues would be resolved.

The KCA initiative comes in the wake of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) issuing a show-cause notice to the Kochi franchisee to incorporate the joint-venture within 10 to 15 days, solve all issues and come out with a clear picture.

“We have invited the major stakeholders of the consortium to the diamond jubilee celebrations that will be held in Kochi on October 7 and they have agreed to meet,” said KCA Secretary T C Mathew in Kochi

The KCA or even Kerala did not want to lose the IPL, as the owners are yet to register the company under the Companies Act, he added.

Rendezvous Sports World had won the Kochi IPL franchisee in March after bidding it for Rs. 1,500 crore.

Meanwhile, former Union Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor has distanced himself from the franchisee’s problems, but said he is willing to help if approached by the stakeholders. He also said that his wife, Sunanda, has returned her 18 percent free stakes in RSW.

A consortium of owners, including Rendezvous Sports World (RSW) had won the Kochi IPL franchise in March with a bid of Rs 1530 crore.

Controversy had dogged the new team following a spat between Tharoor and former IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi over the ownership of RSW. (ANI)