BCCI likely to float tender for new IPL teams

Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) working group, which is currently in consultation with the franchise owners on the way ahead for Indian Premier League (IPL), is likely to float tenders for new teams very soon. According to well-placed sources, it's unlikely that the number of teams will come down from eight. The board officials are also clear that no decision would be taken "on the basis of negotiation".

"The process has to be transparent and in a situation like this, tenders will probably be floated inviting bidders for new teams," a source close to the developments told TOI. Even though the working group is supposed to give its findings in six weeks' time, there is a possibility that a solution will be found earlier than that. BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur, who was present in the meeting that took place on Wednesday, confirmed this: "As we have been allotted six weeks, we have lined up a lot of meetings over the next few days. Hopefully, we will complete our work before six weeks."

The working group is looking into all the pros and cons, but it's understood that the fate of the two banned franchises -Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals - won't be decided in a hurry. It might be difficult to scratch the two teams and the BCCI will look into all options possible before coming to a final decision on the two teams suspended by the Lodha committee. It is also not yet clear whether Kochi Tuskers would once again return to the fray. "These are decisions that will be taken over the next couple of weeks, but what we are insisting on is transparency. There will be no grey areas at all," the source said.

On Wednesday, the working group members met Kolkata Knight Riders co-owner Jay Mehta and CEO Venky Mysore while Anil Kumble joined the meeting via video conferencing in his personal capacity. Sourav Ganguly was not present at the meeting but IPL COO Sundar Raman attended the meeting along with IPL commissioner Rajeev Shukla, Thakur and BCCI treasurer Aniruddh Chaudhary.

While Mysore termed it as a "brainstorming session", Shukla said some ideas were exchanged. "Kumble joined us in his personal capacity as a former player and not as a Mumbai Indians representative. We wanted a few ideas from Anil," Shukla said.