BCCI Unaware of Pune Warriors IPL Withdrawal as Tensions Mount with Sahara

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has said they are unaware of Pune Warrior’s decision to pull-out from the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The Board claims that they have had ‘no direct communication’ with Sahara Adventure Sports Limited, denture who said they would pull the Warriors on Tuesday.

A statement from Sahara at the time read: “We will not keep the IPL franchise even if the entire franchisee fee is waved off. It is the firm and final decision of Sahara to withdraw from IPL.

“In 2010, Sahara had bid 1700 crore for an IPL franchise on the basis of revenue calculated for 94 matches. It was tricky on the part of BCCI to put the number as 94 matches in the media to get a bigger amount, but we got 64 matches only.”

The BCCI claimed to have encashed ‘a part’ of the bank guarantee of the franchise because Sahara defaulted on payments.

Now the BCCI say they have heard nothing from Sahara in regards to puling the Pune Warriors out of the IPL.

“The BCCI has read in media reports that Sahara has purported to terminate its franchise agreement and to pull out,” a statement from BCCI secretary read. 

No direct communication

“The BCCI has had no direct communication from its franchisee in this regard. The BCCI can however confirm that in order to satisfy the balance of the 2013 franchise fee of Rs 120 crore, which was overdue and owing to BCCI since 3 April 2013, it has encashed part of the bank guarantee.

“While it is true that the arbitration has not progressed, the BCCI cannot be held responsible since every one of the eminent retired judges suggested by the BCCI was not found acceptable by the franchisee.

“In order to break this impasse, a letter was sent (to Sahara) proposing that as the claimant to the arbitration, it should approach the court to appoint an arbitrator so that the process could move forward. Again, there was no response.”

Sahara disputed this claim and said that the BCCI had turned down their requests to talk.

A statement read: “Sahara has been continuously requesting revision of the franchise fee.

“In the joint statement given on Feb 16, 2012, BCCI had stated that (they… along with Sahara) agree to start the arbitration proceedings….subsequently on various occasions Sahara had suggested names of retired judges as arbitrators, each of which were rejected by BCCI.

“The bank guarantee lapsed on May 2 and nobody from BCCI went for encashment. However, after our last match (May 19), BCCI representatives went to the bank the next day. Had the BCCI moved on May 2…it would have jeopardised the event.”