Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], August 1 (ANI): At the Indian Premier League (IPL) owners meet, which was organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), <keyword id="19907060" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Delhi-Capitals" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Delhi Capitals" meta.hostid="83" meta.entityid="Delhi Capitals">Delhi Capitals</keyword> (DC) was against the <keyword id="21099854" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Impact-Player-rule" source="keywords">impact player rule</keyword> while <keyword id="1494441" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sunrisers-Hyderabad" source="Orion">Sunrisers Hyderabad</keyword> was (SRH) in favour of seven retentions, according to ESPNcricinfo. BCCI organised the meeting with the owners of the ten franchises to discuss various points concerning retentions for the upcoming <keyword id="19701758" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="IPL-2025" source="Orion">IPL 2025</keyword> season. According to the report, the frequency of the mega auctions and the auction purse were among the other points discussed. After the meeting, the Delhi-based franchise co-owner Parth Jindal said that some teams want the impact player rule because it gives a chance to the young players to play in the T20 tournament. "Some people want it because it gives a chance to young players to play in the IPL. Some people don't want it because it is detrimental to Indian cricket in terms of the development of allrounders. So it's a mixed bag. I'm on the second camp. I don't want it. I prefer the game as it is 11 versus 11, and I think allrounders are very important. And you have different players who don't bowl in the IPL or don't bat in the IPL because of this rule, which is not good for Indian cricket," Jindal was quoted by ESPNcricinfo as saying. The report stated that Sunrisers Hyderabad owner Kavya Maran suggested that "players could be secured via a plain retention process or a combination of retention and RTM at the auction or all exclusively via the right-to-match (RTM) card." As per the reports, the IPL 2024 winner Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) asked BCCI that eight players should be bought back exclusively via the RTM method. The co-owner of Delhi Capitals added that he was 'surprised' to see that few franchises were against the <keyword id="21154992" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mega-auction" source="keywords">mega auction</keyword>. "I was surprised. There was a debate. Some people said that there should not be a mega auction at all. There should be only smaller auctions. I'm not in that camp. I feel that I feel that it evens the playing field and it's very good for everyone. It makes the IPL what it is. It makes it competitive. It makes it an even playing field," Jindal added. BCCI secretary Jay Shah, co-owner of Punjab Kings Ness Wadia, and Kolkata Knight Riders owner <keyword id="19895142" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Shah-Rukh-Khan" source="keywords">Shah Rukh Khan</keyword> were spotted after the meeting. After the conclusion of the meeting, Wadia didn't spill the beans on the discussion that took place during the meeting but stated that the overall discussion was good and that whatever outcome comes will be in the best interest of everyone. "It was a good meeting. Happy to be having a discussion with the BCCI, and I think whatever will be done will be in the best interest of everyone, the fans, cricketers and stakeholders. Maybe the outcome will come in the next two weeks, maybe less or maybe more," Wadia told reporters.

IPL owners meet: Delhi Capitals against impact player rule; Sunrisers Hyderabad want 7 retentions

Kolkata, <keyword id="13839" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gautam-Gambhir" source="Orion">Gautam Gambhir</keyword> on Wednesday was named 'Mentor' of Shah Rukh Khan-owned-Kolkata Knight Riders, an IPL franchise that won its two championships under his able leadership back in 2012 and 2014. Gambhir, the hero of India's T20 and 50 over World Cup victories, had led KKR from 2011 to 2017 before parting ways and for the past two seasons was at helm of Lucknow Super Giants as their 'Mentor. Lucknow qualified for play-offs during both seasons but were unable to go the distance which prompted the franchise to bring in former Australian opener and T20 World Cup winning coach Justin Langer. Once the Sanjiv Goenka-owned franchise roped in Langer, Gambhir's exit was always on the cards. While both LSG and Gambhir vehemently denied the move for longest time, a lengthy meeting in Bollywood superstar's Mumbai home had created a lot of buzz about his apparent move, which finally turned into a reality. Venky Mysore, the all-powerful CEO of KKR, announced that Gambhir will join hands with head coach Chandrakant Pandit. "I am not an emotional person and not many things move me. But this is different. This is back to where it all started. Today, there is a lump in my throat and fire in my heart as I think about slipping into that purple and gold jersey once again," Gambhir was quoted as saying in a press note issued by franchise. "I am not only coming back to KKR but I am coming back to the 'City of Joy'. I am back. I am hungry. I am number 23. Ami KKR," the former India KKR's principal Shah Rukh Khan said: "Gautam has always been part of the family and this is our 'Captain' coming back home in a different avatar as a "Mentor". "He was sorely missed and now we all look forward to Chandu Sir and Gautam in instilling the never-say-die spirit and of sportsmanship they stand for, in creating magic with Team KKR." Expected to get full authority ================== One thing about Gambhir, who is also an elected Member of Parliament, is that he likes to have his own team and full control of proceedings and he is always ready to bear the brunt of consequences. With Gambhir's re-entry in his "spiritual home", it will be interesting to see the scope and domain for former Mumbai all-rounder Abhishek Nayar, who had a big say in strategic matters related to team selection and combination. With Gambhir, he has always been the "Captain' of the ship as principal owner said in his statement, and KKR fans would hope for a turnaround after a few indifferent seasons.

Gautam Gambhir returns to Kolkata Knight Riders as 'Mentor'

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/51823807.cms" style="width: 800px; height: 600px;" /> 
Till last year, 24-year-old <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=KESHAV+BANSAL&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Keshav Bansal</a> was busy running a mobile handset company as the Director of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=INTEX+TECHNOLOGIES&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Intex Technologies India Ltd</a>. Today, he is the youngest owner of an <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=IPL&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">IPL</a> team- the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=GUJARAT+LIONS&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Gujarat Lions</a>. 
 According to him, it took a mere 20 minutes to convince his father Narendra Bansal, who is the Chairman and Managing Director of <keyword id="6366627" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Intex">Intex</keyword> Technologies that he had what is needed to run an <keyword id="6354312" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="IPL">IPL</keyword> franchise. 
 
Talking to Livemint about his journey of owning an IPL team, Bansal admitted that he was infact in discussions with <keyword id="6354756" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="BCCI">BCCI</keyword> for a long-term sponsorship association for Intex as an on-ground sponsor for the IPL. 
 
“That was six months before the auctions. Coincidentally, BCCI members bounced off the idea for bidding for a team. I got back to the office, researched and made a formal presentation to my father. It took us 20 minutes to decide and my father has supported me through this,” said Bansal. 
 
Bansal, who grew up in a joint family studied at The Heritage School in Vasant Kunj before pursuing management AT IILM Institute of High Education in New Delhi. In between, he had also spent a year at the Manchester School of Business. 
 
When he joined Intex, he was put in the logistics department and had to work his way to the company’s marketing team before becoming its Director. 
By his own admission, Bansal has been actively involved in making ad films for the company right from strategy to ideation. 
 
In the past too, he has had a reputation for taking on things at a young age. For example, he held his first press conference at 20 when Farhan Akhtar was appointed as Intex’s brand ambassador. 
 
Owning an IPL team for Bansal ultimately boils down to a chapter in marketing. 
 “Intex Technologies and IPL have the same target audience—the youth. We have been majorly focusing on cricket to fulfil marketing goals. With <keyword id="1641060" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gujarat-lions">Gujarat Lions</keyword>, we have further strengthened the association and made it more meaningful..,” said Bansal in an interview to Mint. 
 
That however doesn’t imply that he does not take an interest in cricket. But, at the same time, he claims he is equally fond of other sports as well. Naturally, he was also personally involved in the selection of players for the Gujarat Lions. 
 
The team is captained by <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=SURESH+RAINA&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Suresh Raina</a> who is aided my coach Brad Hodge. Others players include Ravindra Jadeja, <keyword id="55681" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Brendon-McCullum">Brendon McCullum</keyword>, James Faulkner and Dwayne Bravo, to name a few. 
 
Once his two-year association with IPL ends, Bansal already has another dream he would like converting to reality- that of taking Intex global. 
 
Image credit: Indiatimes

Meet
24-year-old Keshav Bansal, the youngest owner of an IPL team

<ul><li>An IPL between September and early November has been made possible by the ICC's decision on Monday to postpone the <keyword id="44040" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="T20-World-Cup">T20 World Cup</keyword> in Australia, scheduled for October-November, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.</li><li>The IPL GC will meet within a week or 10 days and all decisions (including final schedule) will be taken there, Patel told PTI. </li><li>The franchisees had already been working on their plans for the IPL even before the ICC announcement.</li></ul> With the T20 World Cup's postponement clearing the decks for a full-fledged IPL, the glitzy event's Governing Council will meet in a week or 10 days' time to plan its next course of action, eyeing UAE as the host this year. An IPL between September and early November has been made possible by the ICC's decision on Monday to postpone the T20 World Cup in Australia, scheduled for October-November, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "The IPL GC will meet within a week or 10 days and all decisions (including final schedule) will be taken there. As of now, the plan is to have a full fledged IPL comprising 60 games and most likely in the UAE," Patel told PTI. Asked about the main challenges in conducting the event in current scenario, Patel added: "Just the operational side of it. Whether you do it here or outside, it doesn't matter (with no crowds)." The franchisees had already been working on their plans for the IPL even before the ICC announcement. With majority of the Indian players not having access to grounds amid the pandemic, teams will need at least three to four weeks to get them match ready. Foreign players will fly in directly to the UAE from their respective countries. "Our players will need at least three to four weeks of training, if not more. We will finalise all our plans once the BCCI announces the dates. It looks like the IPL will be in the UAE and we are ready for that," a team owner told PTI. Since India tour Australia for a four-Test series right after the IPL, training of the Test players is also an important issue. Test specialists like Cheteshwar Pujara and Hanuma Vihari, who are not part of the IPL, are likely to train for the eagerly-awaited series in a bio-secure environment at the newly-renovated Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad during the time of the IPL. A few fringe players are expected to join them at Motera along with the Indian team's support staff, which is free during the IPL. Work from home has become the norm amid the pandemic, therefore, there is a possibility that IPL commentary will happen from the comfort of the living room, a safer and cost effective-option considering the likes of Sunil Gavaskar, who is 71, are involved. The viewership is expected to be a record one with people craving for live cricket, something KXIP co-owner Ness Wadia has said. However, it remains to be seen how much the broadcasters and teams are able to attract from the sponsors in the current financial climate. More moot points and questions ahead of the IPL GC meeting: 1) More double headers expected (original schedule had only five double headers). 2) BCCI will need to provide a Standard Operating Procedure to IPL teams even though they will have their own SOPs in place. 4) Will the BCCI compensate teams for not being able to generate gate money this year? 7) Will there be virtual commentary from Star Sports? It was seen in the recent 3TC event in South Africa with the likes of Aakash Chopra, Deep Dasgupta and Irfan Pathan commentating from home. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/coovid-vaccine-from-oxford-serum-institute-and-astrazeneca-shows-promising-immune-response/articleshow/77069321.cms">The COVID-19 vaccine from Oxford and Astrazeneca shows 'promising' results in early human trials</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/from-intel-and-wipro-to-tcs-and-google-here-are-the-top-job-openings-in-the-multinational-companies/articleshow/77058769.cms">From Intel and Wipro to TCS and Google— Here are the top job openings in the multinational companies</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/checkout-upcoming-affordable-smartphone-oneplus-nord-launch-price-specifications-features/articleshow/77061620.cms">OnePlus Nord launch price, specs and more – Everything we know about the upcoming affordable OnePlus smartphone</a>

UAE might host Indian Premier League this year in September

<ul><li>BCCI has postponed the <keyword id="7463791" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="ipl-2020">IPL 2020</keyword> to April 15 due to the coronavirus outbreak.</li><li>Franchise owners are expected to meet BCCI officials on Saturday.</li></ul>The Indian Premier League 2020, one of the biggest sporting events in India, is April 15, due to the coronavirus outbreak. The IPL 2020 was slated to begin on March 29 however visa restrictions by the government which will keep foreign players away, forcing them to make this decision. "The BCCI is concerned and sensitive about all its stakeholders, and public health in general, and it is taking all necessary steps to ensure that, all people related to IPL including fans have a safe cricketing experience," the release said. The IPL 2020 is not the only major sporting event affected by the coronavirus. The UEFA Champions League, the NBA and the La Liga have also been suspended due the deadly pandemic. Overseas players may be able to join As per reports, franchise owners are against playing without their overseas players. This delay will allow overseas players to join the IPL 2020 as the visa restrictions will end on April 15. However, the government is expected to reassess the situation in the coming weeks and may relax or extend the visa restrictions based on the gravity of the situation. Franchise owners want to play games behind closed doors Even when the IPL 2020 begins on April 15, its matches may still have to be played only for TV without live audience. The Maharashtra government was the first to <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/sports/covid-19-maharashtra-to-allow-ipl-matches-only-in-empty-stadiums/articleshow/74589767.cms">announce</a> it will allow IPL only if it is played behind closed doors, to discourage public gatherings. The Delhi government quickly followed suit. The franchise owners will reportedly make this same request to ask BCCI officials on Saturday in order to keep up with the schedule of games and cities. A franchise official in a statement to IANS said that playing games in closed doors is better than postponement as it will allow foreign players to join the teams. “If we get to the business end without our foreign recruits, then it again becomes a domestic tournament just like say Mushtaq Ali or Vijay Hazare Trophy. To keep the charisma alive, you need foreign players,” he added. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/news/mumbai-indians-chennai-super-kings-and-royal-challengers-will-be-worst-hit-if-ipl-is-played-behind-closed-doors/articleshow/74595197.cms">Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore will be worst hit if IPL is played behind closed doors</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/news/ipl-has-to-be-played-behind-closed-doors-amid-coronavirus-outbreak-says-govt/articleshow/74591684.cms">IPL has to be played behind closed doors amid coronavirus outbreak, says Govt</a>

IPL 2020 postponed to April 15 as the game will have no ‘charisma’ without foreign players

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/48263179.cms" /> Former Indian captain <keyword id="6359039" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sourav-Ganguly">Sourav Ganguly</keyword> told reporters that players of the two banned IPL teams of <keyword id="13802" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rajasthan-Royals">Rajasthan Royals</keyword> and <keyword id="13886" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Chennai-Super-Kings">Chennai Super Kings</keyword> shouldn’t be chastised for the faults of their respective owners. 
 
A member of the BCCI’s four-member working group that’ll study the Justice R.M. Lodha committee’s order, Sourav maintained, “I don’t want to jump the gun, there’s a Board to take care of that. The role of the working group is to find out a way to get the next IPL going. But innocent players shouldn’t suffer. It’s common sense, really. You cannot punish X for Y’s faults. How and where they play, how they are distributed among teams is for the Board to decide.” 
 The special BCCI group will give its recommendations within six weeks. It’ll also chart a roadmap for IPL 9, which needs a minimum of eight teams. When asked if IPL’s tainted pacer <keyword id="6529653" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sreesanth">Sreesanth</keyword> could be allowed to play again Ganguly said, “Well, he has been cleared by a Delhi court, but the BCCI has said that its decision, based on disciplinary action, will remain unaltered. Since the BCCI gives all the players an opportunity to come back and play, I think there should be a meeting between Sreesanth and the BCCI." 
 
"As far as Sreesanth's comeback is concerned, I believe that the Kerala Cricket Association has supported him and has requested the BCCI to help him. That's the way it should be”, he said. 
 
Sourav also gave rise to conjectures of a possible comeback of players convicted in the match-fixing scandal, "I think it will take a few months' time since there is a scope of going to a higher court. I don't know what Delhi police is going to do. But I feel if the BCCI, maybe in a few months' time, is convinced that everything is clear and fine, they will let the players play. We have to wait for some more time." 
 
Dada also confirmed that the BCCI has extended the Conflict of Interest clause to more than just the owners, “Everyone associated with Indian cricket would be under it. That includes the administration and the players.” 
 
When asked if India-Pakistan matches should continue after the heinous attack on Gurdaspur, Sourav thought otherwise, "An India-Pakistan series is always entertaining and a high profile one, but we cannot ignore the sufferings of the people of Gurdaspur. I think the Board was correct in saying that the terror attacks and threats would have to completely go before bilateral cricket ties can be resumed." 
 
Image credit: Indiatimes

Sourav
Ganguly says IPL players not to suffer for owner’s faults

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/48713371.cms" /> <keyword id="6354756" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="BCCI">BCCI</keyword>’s crucial Working Committee meeting was adjourned by President Jagmohan Dalmiya after witnessing high drama over the presence of its former chief N Srinivasan. "The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Working Committee meeting was adjourned sine die after deciding to seek the opinion of the Hon'ble Supreme Court whether Mr. <keyword id="151653" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="N-Srinivasan">N. Srinivasan</keyword> could attend the meetings of the BCCI as the authorised representative of Tamil Nadu Cricket Association," BCCI Secretary Anurag Thakur said in a brief statement. The working committee was to discuss the report of the four-member working group on the roadmap for conducting the <keyword id="6354312" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="IPL">IPL</keyword> in the wake of the two-year suspension of two franchises -- Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals -- by the Supreme Court-appointed Justice RM Lodha committee. 

	The meeting was postponed as the members argued over the presence of Srinivasan, who was earlier barred by the Supreme Court from contesting the BCCI President's post following the IPL spot-fixing scandal. 
 

	In his defence, Srinivasan, who attended the meeting as President of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association, placed Justice Sri Krishna's opinion which said he was entitled to attend the meeting, an official who attended the meeting said. 
 

	But some BCCI members countered that argument and claimed that the Supreme Court had made it clear that he should stay away from BCCI meetings. 
 

	"Since there was no clarity on the legal status of Mr Srinivsan, President adjourned the meeting after the BCCI legal adviser Ushanath Banerjee also said that he was not sure about Srinivasan's legal standing as of now," the official said. 
 

	The official said that Srinivasan was specifically told not to attend the meeting and among those who tried to dissuade him were IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla and BCCI Treasurer Anirudh Chaudhary. However, the Chennai strongman did not give in and attended the meeting. 
 

	Srinivasan tried explaining his stance to the BCCI members by insisting that there was no conflict of interest in his position as an administrator and as owner of Indian Cements -- the company which owned CSK. 
 

	The BCCI, it is learnt, has decided to call an emergency working committee meeting in the first week of September to finalise the date of its Annual General Meeting, which is likely to be held in Kolkata on September 27. 
 

	Today, the working committee was to discuss the Justice Lodha Committee report and the subsequent recommendations of the Working Group. 
 

	The meeting was also set to deliberate on the the Madras High Court order directing the BCCI, India Cements and others involved to submit their counter affidavits to the petition which has been filed by CSK Ltd. 
 

	The High Court has directed the parties to file their written submissions within a certain time period and the next hearing has been scheduled for September 23. 
 

	The two-time champions CSK had moved the Madras HC challenging the suspension. The first bench of the High Court had found the petition maintainable and issued notice to the Board of Control for Cricket in India. 
 

	Other key points on the agenda were the NCA committee recommendations on whether to keep the apex academy in Bangalore, discuss affiliation status of Chattisgarh, Bihar and Manipur and the technical committee recommendation among others. 
 

	Appointment of India's next coach was not on the agenda but the working committee was to ask the Cricket Advisory Committee, comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman to finalise the name. 
 Yesterday, the IPL Governing Council had recommended Having two news teams for the next two editions of <keyword id="6354831" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indian-Premier-League">Indian Premier League</keyword> in place of Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals. 
	 
	(Image credits: Indiatimes)

Srinivasan's presence creates high drama at BCCI meeting

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/49301714.cms" />The value of the title sponsorship could fall by 30% if <keyword id="54572" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="PepsiCo">PepsiCo</keyword> terminates its contract ahead of schedule as the <keyword id="6354312" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="IPL">IPL</keyword> title sponsor raised concerns over the controversies and ethical issues that clad the name of the tournament now, experts say. A joint statement issued by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (<keyword id="6354756" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="BCCI">BCCI</keyword>) and PepsiCo said the two were in discussions to work out a solution. 

	"Both parties will share it when ready," it said. IPL has been in the centre of a major spot-fixing controversy and two franchisees have been suspended from the tournament after a Supreme Court-appointed panel found their owners to be guilty of malpractices. 
 

	"We are very clear that we do not want to be associated with a controversyridden sport. However, as of now there is no decision to terminate the contract with IPL two years ahead of term. Discussions with BCCI are still on," a senior official at PepsiCo told ET. The company had paid Pepsi Rs 396.80 crore to bag the title sponsorship in 2013 for a fiveyear period which ends in 2017. 
 The official said PepsiCo was satisfied with the mileage it had derived from its association with the Twenty-20 tournament but Global Chairman <keyword id="6421975" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indra-Nooyi">Indra Nooyi</keyword> has made it clear that the company will only associate with ethical and clean sporting properties. PepsiCo had earlier terminated its contract with ace golfer Tiger Woods following an infamous sex scandal. 

	The cola maker can scrap its sponsorship if circumstances sullied the sporting event's reputation or the brand image of the sponsor because of its IPL association. However, this needs to be proved by the sponsor. Otherwise, the cricket board has the option of dragging the company to court. 
 

	In its statement, BCCI said it has assured PepsiCo that steps would be taken to address the concerns and it will work towards necessary solutions in the interests of the league as well as the company. Media planners and experts say that if a solution is not found and PepsiCo does indeed exit ahead of its term, it could push down pricing of IPL title sponsorship by as much as 30%. 
 

	"Prices of the IPL title sponsorship will go down by 25-30% (that) is my estimate. That's because of two reasons. The new sponsor will have to wipe out the very strong association PepsiCo had with IPL for three years. Besides, the new title sponsor will have only two years to leverage IPL," said Sam Balsara, chairman at media buying group Madison. 
 Ecommerce companies such as Paytm and <keyword id="541988" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="SnapDeal">Snapdeal</keyword> could look at picking up the title sponsorship if Pepsi ends its deal. Shankar Nath, senior vice-president at Paytm, which is already the title sponsor for all international cricket matches to be played in India till 2019, said the company would evaluate the opportunity once there was more clarity after BCCI's meeting on October 18. "IPL is a good, stable property," he said. A top Snapdeal official, who did not wish to be named, said the company may consider the sponsorship option as IPL was still an interesting asset. 

	Ashish Bhasin, chairman &amp; CEO, South Asia, at Dentsu Aegis Network, said it won't be difficult to find sponsors. "It's more about the pricing. Going forward pricing of title sponsorship and also of other sponsorship and TV spots will depend on how the controversy around IPL is managed. The impact will get magnified if the controversy doesn't end quickly," he said. But Shailendra Singh, joint managing director at entertainment and sports marketing firm Percept, said no one in BCCI had made any effort to rebuild the IPL brand and no company would want to risk its image by getting involved with the tournament. 
 Companies willing to take an exposure to IPL could be the new ecommerce players looking for a quick hit to establish themselves, and the fact that it would possibly be for a shorter duration of only two years would help. IPL was hit by the spot-fixing and betting scandal in 2013, the first year of Pepsi's association with the tournament. At that time, Delhi Police had arrested three players — <keyword id="13418" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="S-Sreesanth">S Sreesanth</keyword>, Ashok Chandila and <keyword id="219674" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ankeet-Chavan">Ankeet Chavan</keyword> — on charges of alleged spot fixing. Later, Gurunath Meiyappan, the son-in-law of then BCCI president N Srinivasan, was also arrested along with Bollywood actor Vindu Dara Singh for their alleged involvement in betting. 
	 
	(Image credits: Indiatimes)

Why IPL this year will be a huge failure?

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/48087774.cms" /> A day after <keyword id="2813848" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Justice-Lodha-Committee">Justice Lodha Committee</keyword> report left bitter impression in the minds of the top players of the cricket fraternity, <keyword id="6354756" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="BCCI">BCCI</keyword>'s top officials has started working out a contingency plan to ensure that the league remains an eight-team affair as its contract with the broadcasters Multi Screen Media envisages a 60-match schedule. The officials have already started informal discussion on the way forward before the <keyword id="121961" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="IPL-governing-council">IPL Governing Council</keyword> meets for an emergency session in Mumbai on Sunday. <keyword id="6354312" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="IPL">IPL</keyword> Chairman <keyword id="13855" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rajeev-Shukla">Rajeev Shukla</keyword> is scheduled to meet BCCI President <keyword id="82274" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Jagmohan-Dalmiya">Jagmohan Dalmiya</keyword> late this evening and tomorrow morning in Kolkata to discuss the implications of the Supreme Court-appointed Justice R M Lodha committee verdict. 

	"We have started discussions on the way forward. We have studied the Justice Lodha committee report, the Governing Council will discuss all aspects of this verdict and decide the future course of action," a top BCCI official told PTI. 
 

	The official said that the Board could possibly explore two options to ensure that the IPL remains an eight-team event. 
 

	"The BCCI can run the two teams for two years and the original owners can come back after the ban period is over. The other option is to invite fresh bids for two new teams since many corporates have expressed an interest in buying an IPL team," he said. 
 

	The problem that BCCI might face if it invites bids for two new teams is that it could increase the number of teams to 10 after CSK and RR complete their ban period. Drawing up a home and away basis schedule for 10 teams could drag the league well beyond its stipulated window of about six weeks. 
 

	There are few members of the BCCI who are keen to invite fresh bids since it will generate more money for the league. 
 

	BCCI running two teams may not be economically viable since the entire cost of managing the team and playing the players their salaries will have to be borne by the Board. 
	 
	(Image credits: Indiatimes)

BCCI has started working to recover from the stung of Lodha committee verdict

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/49442182.cms" style="width: 800px; height: 600px;" /> Mobile company <keyword id="215177" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Vivo">Vivo</keyword> today replaced <keyword id="54572" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="PepsiCo">PepsiCo</keyword> as the title sponsor of the high-profile Indian Premier League, a change necessitated by the beverage giant's sudden pullout from a five-year deal that was to end in 2017. 
 "The <keyword id="6354312" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="IPL">IPL</keyword> title sponsorship right has been assigned to M/S Vivo mobiles. Vivo is to give the Bank Guarantee in next ten days," the <keyword id="6354756" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="BCCI">BCCI</keyword> said in a statement announcing decisions taken at its all-powerful working committee meeting. 
 
PepsiCo's decision to end its deal with IPL was reportedly caused by the spot-fixing scandal which shook the game in 2013. 
 
Although the company did not come on record to specify the reasons but it was reported that PepsiCo felt the spot- fixing scandal had brought the IPL in disrepute. 
 
In the 2013 season of the IPL, Ankeet Chavan, Ajit Chandila and S Sreesanth were arrested over charges of spot- fixing. This was followed by allegations that Chennai Super Kings team principle Gurunath Meiyappan, and Raj Kundra, co- owner of Rajasthan Royals, were involved in betting. 
 
The BCCI banned the three cricketers for life and the Supreme Court appointed the Justice Mudgal committee to investigate the scandal. 
 
The Supreme Court appointed the Justice RM Lodha panel and the quantum of punishment was decided, with CSK and Rajasthan Royals banned from the tournament for two years. Meiyappan and Kundra, on the other hand, were banned for life. 
 Among other decisions taken at today's meeting, <keyword id="69300" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="nike">Nike</keyword> was retained as the apparel sponsor of the Indian cricket team. 
 
Image credit: Indiatimes

Vivo replaces PepsiCo as title sponsor of the Indian Premier League

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/48071718.cms" style="width: 800px; height: 600px;" /> The <keyword id="6354312" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="IPL">IPL</keyword> Governing Council members will soon be meeting to discuss the implications and the road ahead after the verdict by the <keyword id="2803450" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Lodha-Committee">Lodha committee</keyword> banning Chennai Super Kings and <keyword id="13802" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rajasthan-Royals">Rajasthan Royals</keyword> for two yeras from the IPL besides imposing life suspensions on their tainted officials <keyword id="1682587" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gurunath-Meiyappan">Gurunath Meiyappan</keyword> and <keyword id="18641" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Raj-Kundra">Raj Kundra</keyword>. "We were having some informal discussions once the verdict was announced. An emergent meeting is on the cards where the members will be apprised of the situation and the road ahead will be only chalked out after our legal team goes through entire contents of the copy of the verdict," a senior <keyword id="6354756" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="BCCI">BCCI</keyword> functionary and IPL Governing Council member member told PTI today. However, the three primary points that have emerged from the discussions between the senior functionaries are that of whether new companies will be allowed to bid for two vacant slots, whether all players or only the <keyword id="122828" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="CSK">CSK</keyword> and RR players will be going into auctions and also the case of the de-merger of the CSK from its parent company India Cements Limited. 

	"Since during our last GC meeting, we have forwarded the matter of CSK's de-merger and share valuation issue to the Working Committee, who will be taking legal opinion, we have to wait for it. Now current owners of CSK and Royals may be in a mood to sell their franchises to new owners but there are a few problems," another GC member explained the current situation.
 

	"The moment CSK or RR is sold off in its current state to a new owner, the existing legal liabilities will then be burden of the new owner. Plus both franchises have lost goodwill. In this existing scenario can they be sold off or new buyers will be interested?" he questioned.
 

	"Since Lodha committee has stated that the BCCI needs to look at it, we must be very careful about it and also keep the legal implications in mind," he said.
 

	The last crucial point is the case of new bids being invited by the BCCI to again make it an eight-team league but the case of Players' Auction is then closely related to the issue.
 

	"There are two options related to this matter. The BCCI invites tender for fresh bidding of two new IPL franchises. Since around 45-odd players from these two franchises will become free due to the verdict, a mini-auction is held and the two new franchises are allowed to pick from the existing pool of players.
 

	"But then the new owners might oppose the idea of getting to select players from a restricted pool. In that case, it needs to be decided whether a fresh auction may be called having all the players from all the teams back in the auction pool," said the source.
 

	A fresh auction was supposed to be held before the 2017 IPL but current situation may drive BCCI to have one before the scheduled time.
 The other aspect will be Srinivasan's fate as <keyword id="2949656" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="BCCI-representative">BCCI representative</keyword> in ICC. While the issue is supposed to come up in September, the verdict will certainly make BCCI mandarins have a rethink on having him as their representative. 
	 
	(Image credits: Indiatimes)

Furore after Lodha committee verdict

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/34916307.cms" /> Motherhood no longer means sitting at home and feeling sad about the rocking career you have left behind. New-age mommies are a new breed of multitasking divas who are fast learning the art of striking work-life-balance and not letting motherhood ruin their future plans. These career <keyword id="624" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Women">women</keyword> are awesome mommies, nevertheless. Are you looking for inspiration as you want to do the same? Here’s a look at 9 <keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> mommies who are enthusiastic career women as well. 
 
1. <keyword id="99676" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Shilpa-Shetty-Kundra">Shilpa Shetty Kundra</keyword> 
From owning an IPL team to running her own spa, there’s a lot to talk about this yummy mummy. Mother of a 2-year-old son, Shilpa has a number of popular brand endorsements to her name, including cord blood banking, water purifiers, shampoos and pregnancy test kits. She also judges a dance reality show on TV and keeps launching her fitness DVDs to inspire other mommies. 
 
<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/34919392.cms" /> 
 
2. <keyword id="111282" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kajol-Devgn">Kajol Devgn</keyword> Although we don’t see her on-screen too frequently, <keyword id="6354713" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="kajol">Kajol</keyword> is doing some helluva job off-screen. This mom of a 10-year-old girl, <keyword id="19572" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="nysa">Nysa</keyword>, and a 3-year-old boy, <keyword id="287729" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Yug">Yug</keyword>, is actively involved with Shiksha, an NGO focusing on children’s education. She is also the brand ambassador of a children’s charity association called Pratham. She might be away from mainstream movies, but you get to see her every day on your TV screen, promoting products like hand wash brands, instant health foods, and probiotic and energy drinks, to name a few. 
 
3. <keyword id="11193" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Karisma-Kapoor">Karisma Kapoor</keyword> Here is another Bollywood mommy, a mother of two – an 8-year-old daughter called Samaira and a 3-year-old son, <keyword id="328143" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Kiaan">Kiaan</keyword>. Of late, Karisma has done a few roles and also turned entreprenure by investing in an e-commerce company selling baby care products. But that’s just a small part of her career. She is also playing the RJ for a popular radio channel. And then, brand endorsements are also there. The light-eyed beauty endorses dairy products and breakfast cereals. 
 
<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/34916320.cms" /> 
 
4. <keyword id="289" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="madhuri-dixit-nene">Madhuri Dixit Nene</keyword> 
The dhak dhak girl of Bollywood is a mommy of two boys now. During the early days of motherhood, she took a sabbatical and moved to the US. And now she’s back and how! The once reigning queen of Bollywood has re-established herself as a superstar with her stint with the dance reality show Jhalak Dikhla Jaa. What’s more? She couldn’t keep herself away from the silver screen and treated her fans with two power-packed performances in Gulaab Gang and Dedh Ishqiya. 
 
5. <keyword id="3783" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Farah-Khan">Farah Khan</keyword> 
She had all the reasons to sit at home and relax after giving birth to triplets. But Farah Khan chose to play a super mommy and continued making it big in Bollywood. She had directed Om Shanti Om while she was carrying. And these days, Farah is busy wrapping up her next big film, Happy New Year. Plus, she makes TV appearances as a judge of popular reality shows. 
 
6. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Movies can wait, said Aishwarya when she gave birth to beautiful <keyword id="971577" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Aaradhya">Aaradhya</keyword>. And that had certainly set the tongues wagging about her career coming to a pre-mature halt. But Aishwarya proved them wrong and stood by her commitments. Not only did she make Red Carpet appearances after Aaradhya was born but also endorsed high-end beauty brands and jewellery. 
 
7. <keyword id="915794" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tara-Sharma-Saluja">Tara Sharma Saluja</keyword> 
Tara proved to be a smart mommy as she made sure that motherhood would evolve into a career for her. Just when she could have been tied up with raising her two boys, she launched her own TV show and shared her journey as a mother with the mommies of the world. Today, she is an active mommy-blogger. 
 
8. <keyword id="6368871" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gauri-Khan">Gauri Khan</keyword> A doting mother of three, Gauri launched her own interior design store called The Design Cell earlier this year. Her stint with interior designing started with her own home Mannat and now it’s a profession for her. In 2002, she also turned a <keyword id="6356809" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="producer">producer</keyword> for Farah Khan-directed Main Hoon Na. 
 
9. <keyword id="5357" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Twinkle-Khanna">Twinkle Khanna</keyword> After quitting Bollywood in 2001, the gorgeous <keyword id="31838" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Twinkle">Twinkle</keyword>, a mother of two, ventured into interior designing and is now the co-owner of The White Window store. She has also produced films including Tees Maar Khan and Patiala House. 
 
Images: Indiatimes

Meet Bollywood’s Most
Successful Moms This Mother’s Day

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/49981470.cms" style="width: 800px; height: 600px;" />The <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=IPL">IPL </a>controversy memories may not have faded yet, but the man at the center of it - Mr <keyword id="18641" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Raj-Kundra">Raj Kundra</keyword> - has managed to sail through troubled waters to keep his prosperous business career flourishing. Yes, for this former <keyword id="13802" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rajasthan-Royals">Rajasthan Royals</keyword> co-owner, his IPL investment goes out of the window, but there are newer ones on the cards already. The launch of his new Viaan mobile smartphones is testimony to the fact that there has been no stopping him ever since Justice Lodha Committee read out that judgement over IPL betting a few months ago, pronouncing him guilty and banning him for life. 
 This sports enthusiast feels it was an unfair trial but life doesn’t stop for him there. It didn’t stop for him either when doors were slammed on his face at the beginning of his career as he tried to sell the Pashmina shawls he bought from Nepal, to fashion houses in London. He was persistent. Soon, he rose from being a small-time seller to becoming the largest buyer of Pashmina shawls. Business opportunities in Antwerp, Russia, Ukraine and UAE pushed him forward into various ventures and investments across the board from mining to <keyword id="6354553" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="real-estate">real estate</keyword> and renewable energy to entertainment and hospitality. That’s not all. Today, he owns Indian television home shopping channel - Best Deal TV Pvt Ltd and a construction company called Kundra Constructions Pvt Ltd. Married to one of the prettiest and fittest <keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> stars, <keyword id="6358615" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Shilpa-Shetty">Shilpa Shetty</keyword>, Raj has evolved as one of the most recognized faces in the biz world today, more so after his recent decision to plunge into the risky consumer electronics space with the launch of affordable smartphones in the name of his son Viaan. 
 At a time when the mobile market is flooded with all kinds of phones – affordable to premium to luxury – and <keyword id="6354504" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Reliance-Jio">Reliance Jio</keyword> is bracing up to descend in the market with its affordable Lyf phones, how is this British businessmen really planning to work this out for himself? As he bets his money in yet another business prospect that he believes in, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/">Business Insider</a> chats with him to get you a sneak peek into his beginning days of struggle, journey to a successful career amid lows and highs, and his newest venture with his wife Shilpa Shetty. 
 
Q) We understand you dropped out of college to choose a career path of your choice. Take us back to the beginning of your journey when you sold Pashmina shawls. 
 
I was 17 when my father gave me six months’ ultimatum to either choose a career line or manage the family-run restaurant business in London. Running the restaurant was not something I was keen on doing. So, I backpacked and set off to discover something that I would want to do my entire life, well aware that I will have to return to London and run the restaurant in case nothing worked out in these six months. However, during my visit to Nepal, my eyes were fixated on the colourful Pashmina shawls that were hanging outside several shops in Kathmandu. As I learnt more about it from the shopkeepers, I felt the product was interesting for the cold climate conditions in London. A credit card with 2000 pound limit in it was all I had. I asked the shopkeeper if he had a factory. He said yes. I asked him to give me one piece of every colour assuring him that I’ll soon get him orders. I swiped my credit card and put all the money into these Pashminas, and took these to London with me. As I reached out to several companies to sell the idea, doors were slammed on my face. Nobody wanted to talk to me since I was a single-man army. Soon, a chance meeting with someone at the airport landed me with a whopping 10,000 crore order. There started my journey. Luck was on my side, and there has been no looking back ever since. 
 
Q) Amid your successful businesses is a low point you faced when Justice Lodha Committee pronounced you guilty in the IPL betting controversy in July this year. It brings your crucial IPL business investment to an end. How has that affected you? 
 
It was not an investment for us, but something Shipla and I were passionate about. We had nothing to sell neither any product to advertise, it was just for the love of the game. I don’t agree with the report. First time around, they said Raj is in the clear but we need to investigate a bit more. To my surprise, without showing me any evidence they suddenly called me guilty. This is huge violation of natural justice. All I know is whoever was guilty has been arrested. I was not once arrested or picked up by the cops. Even they agree that there is no evidence against me. It was an unfair trial. I am not guilty. There’s nothing I have done and I clearly mentioned that if an iota of wrongdoing is found on my part, I’ll forfeit my shares. In any case, it was a judgement that we cannot argue about, so we silently walked off. I don’t want to do anything where there is violation of natural justice. 
 
What brings you to the mobile segment now? 
 
After trading Pashmina shawls, I got into buying and selling mobile phones in UK. It led to me learn the business and eventually, I understood that space very well. Today, I look at India as having so much potential with the demands of nearly 500 billion middle class population residing in the country. I would often complain about certain handsets not working in a certain way. Sometimes you just want to pick your phone, hear a human voice and get your work done. The personal touch that is lost in this tech age is something I still like. And so, I thought not everyone likes to use an app to book their tickets and maybe we need someone to go back to the basics. 
 
What’s the USP? 
 
Our USP is V Assist - 24x7 personalized concierge service which will provide users details on best deals on products and services. With the cheapest entry level phone, you have got a personal secretary at your service to do everything. Just pick your phone, get details and ask our staff to do it for you. It is a free subscription for 1 year. Also with every handset, we are giving a 2 lakh accidental insurance. It’s a lovely add-on. The trivia is that India is known as the accident capital of the world. We cannot prevent these accidents, but a lot of it happens when you are busy on your mobile phones. At least, we can help in this way. We are going to be all about service. 
 
So are others. Don’t you feel that the entering the mobile market is a risky affair with the telecom giants innovating day by day. Soon, Reliance Jio’s Lyf phones which are again affordable phones like yours will hit the market. How do you aim to crush your competition? 
 
I think there is no dearth of demand. Look at the consumption. There are 2 crore handset requirements every month in India and it’s growing at 20-30 per cent every year. It’s a huge consumer market and an average consumer changes his phone twice in a year. With a billion people living in the country, one can imagine the actual consumption. Yes it’s cluttered and you need to create the brand, but it all goes down to service when it comes to a handset. You will provide the same features - camera, memory, speed etc. What different can you do? It is all going to be in the service you offer, the quality of your phone and the affordability factor. 
 
What are you expecting as returns from this new venture in the coming 2-3 years? 
 
We have tied up with a company in Ukraine and we have already launched in 7 CIS countries simultaneously. This one agent in Ukraine is going to look at the CIS turf. His projected business is $80 million a year. If I am taking $80 million internationally and I am doing the same kind of figure in India, you have done a business which is nearly $200 million in the first year itself. Success is assured. 
 
With several start-ups waiting to climb up the ladder of success, what would be your one advice to the newbies? 
 
You have to take risks if you want to run a business. As they say, with no risk comes no gain. However, you can minimize the perceived damage the decision can have of play safe if you take calculated risks. When you put money somewhere, just make sure you are able to see an exit option during unforeseen circumstances.

You Searched For "IPL owners meeting" and got 13 results

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