Kochi’s IPL fate hangs on Nagpur meet

All eyes will be on the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) meeting in Nagpur where the Governing Council of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will meet on Sunday to decide the fate of the owners of the Kochi franchise.

The 30-day termination deadline of the Kochi franchise ended on Saturday and BCCI vice-President Rajiv Shukla had said the Board has received “certain letters” from the consortium’s stakeholders and a final decision on the troubled team would be taken on Sunday.

“I can only say that BCCI President (Shashank Manohar) has received certain letters from the Kochi stakeholders. Keeping that in mind a meeting of the IPL Governing Council has been convened on November 28 in Nagpur where a final decision will be taken on Kochi,” Shukla had said.

“Subsequently whatever steps are to be taken will be taken. The right to decide lies with the Governing Council. I can’t say on that,” said Shukla.

Sources in the BCCI also said that the IPL Kochi team has sent a letter to Manohar withdrawing from the league.

Shashi Tharoor, who was the mentor of the Kochi team, in Kochi said: “I wish them well. I encourage them to try and get together and try and come up with a sense of compromise. My own concerns have been the hopes and aspirations of the young people and sports lovers of the State.”