BCCI's decision to relocate playoff, final matches of IPL influenced by political considerations: WB govt
(You can now subscribe to our
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel
Kolkata: The West Bengal government on Sunday criticised the Board of Control for Cricket in India's ( BCCI ) decision to relocate the playoff and final matches of the Indian Premier League ( IPL ) from Kolkata to Gujarat, claiming that it was influenced by political considerations."I previously addressed the media during a press conference regarding the political motivations behind the decision to relocate the playoffs and final matches from Eden Gardens. Recent developments have further illuminated this issue," State Sports Minister Aroop Biswas claimed in a statement issued late on Sunday evening."The satellite data utilised by the BCCI and the IPL governing body, which was presented as a meteorological assessment, indicated a likelihood of rain in Kolkata during this period. Consequently, the playoffs and final were moved to Gujarat," Biswas said.However, it has become increasingly evident that this satellite report was not solely based on weather conditions but was influenced by political considerations, he claimed."Today, it is clear that cricket fans in Kolkata have been unjustly deprived of this significant sporting event due to political motives. The same satellite that forecasted potential rain in Kolkata failed to recognise the possibility of rain at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Gujarat," Biswas said.He said this "discrepancy underscores" that the decision was not driven by meteorological factors, "but rather by a politically motivated agenda aimed at sidelining Bengal".The BCCI had earlier announced that the second qualifier and the IPL final, scheduled to take place on June 1 and 3 respectively, will be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad instead of Kolkata's Eden Gardens.Biswas had said last week that the BCCI's decision violated the IPL's rule that the previous year's champions' home ground will host the final.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
27 minutes ago
- NDTV
Sourav Ganguly Surprised By Big Omission For England Test Series: 'These Conditions...'
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly believes judging Anshul Kamboj with his first Test being the parameter won't be ideal. He admitted that Mukesh Kumar's omission from India's tour of England left him "surprised" and hopes an opportunity will knock on his door in future. Before the commencement of the fourth Test in Manchester, Kamboj was flown to Manchester after an injury crisis marred the Indian camp. Akash Deep nursed a groin niggle, Arshdeep Singh sustained a blow on his hand, while Nitish Kumar Reddy was ruled out of the entire series. A couple of days after his arrival, the 24-year-old was straightaway thrown into the final XI and handed the burden of bearing the responsibility with the new ball. In his Test debut, he bowled with the new ball ahead of mainstay Mohammed Siraj but failed to cast magic with it. He consistently strayed off his line, leaked runs in abundance and failed to ask the necessary question from English openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett. After a relentless battering, he found some respite after scything his maiden scalp by robbing Ducket of a century and returned with figures of 1/89. "Don't judge Anshul on one Test. He is a young kid, and he has picked wickets in domestic cricket. Give him five to eight Tests before passing a judgment on him on how good he is," Ganguly said in a press conference on Thursday. Before the commencement of the series, there were plenty of pacers who were tried and tested during the two unofficial Tests between India A and England Lions. Mukhesh was a name in that pool and scalped a three-wicket haul in 25 overs at 30.66 in his sole appearance. Even in first-class cricket, Mukesh boasts 252 wickets in 52 appearances at 21.55 average for Bengal. While assessing India's pace attack, the former BCCI president felt the English conditions were ideal for Mukesh to bask in success with his skillset. "I was surprised not to see Mukesh Kumar in the squad. His red-ball numbers in domestic cricket are phenomenal. These conditions would have been suitable for him. Hopefully, in future, he will get his chance," he added.
NDTV
35 minutes ago
- NDTV
Shubman Gill "Has Been Outstanding": Sourav Ganguly's High Praise For India Captain
Former captain Sourav Ganguly had special praise in store for "outstanding" Test skipper Shubman Gill and felt "proud" about the brand of cricket that India has exhibited in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England. Gill has cracked the formula of success in England and unleashed a fusillade of strokes to script a record-shattering overseas tour. From Leeds to London, England's inexperienced bowling attack has failed to contain the Indian captain. Under his captaincy, India has given England a run for their money, whether an inspired performance at Edgbaston or a stubborn draw in Manchester. Even though India endured setbacks at Headingley and Lord's, they fought with unrelenting spirit, something that makes the former BCCI president proud of the team. "Shubman Gill has been outstanding. If you give people the responsibility, you will get them to deliver as well. He has batted outstandingly in the series. For Indian cricket, the quality has been fantastic right throughout (generations), and it makes me feel really proud," Ganguly said during a press conference. In the fifth and final Test at The Oval in London, Gill shattered legendary Sunil Gavaskar 's record for the most runs by an Indian captain in a Test series. In 1978-79, the "Little Master" had garnered 732 runs during a home series against the West Indies, during six Tests and nine innings at an average of 91.50, with four centuries and a fifty. His best score was 205. Gill breezed past Gavaskar by piling up 737 runs in nine innings at an average of 92.12, with four centuries in nine innings and his best score of 269. Notably, Gill is also the highest run-getter in the five-match contest. The 25-year-old stands 38 runs shy of becoming the Indian with the most runs in a bilateral Test series, a record which Gavaskar holds. He could have achieved the feat during the first innings after flaunting his robust technique under London's gloomy sky. However, in a lapse of concentration, Gill pushed the ball and sprinted for a single, only to realise halfway through the crease it was never possible. Gus Atkinson picked the ball and sent the timber rattling to have Gill run out on 21(35).
Economic Times
an hour ago
- Economic Times
The Hundred looking to feed off IPL's 'phenomenal growth' after drawing Indian investment
The investment of four IPL owners into The Hundred will enable the England and Wales Cricket Board-backed event to grow rapidly and learn immensely from the skills possessed by the top minds working for the world's biggest T20 league. Out of the eight teams in the 100-ball competition, four will be partially owned by owners of Mumbai Indians, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Lucknow Super Giants and Delhi Capitals (only GMR group involved). After a long delay, the ECB finalised the deals with the IPL and other investors on Wednesday. Reliance Group, which will own 49 percent of the London-based Oval franchise, and Trent Rockets are yet to close agreements with the ECB. "It's brilliant. You look at what the IPL has done, forget cricket, in sport in general, the growth it's achieved in 18 short years. It's nothing short of phenomenal," said Vikram Banerji, Managing Director of The Hundred, in response to a PTI query on Thursday. "So the growth and the learnings, both on the field and off the field, that they can bring into this tournament, with the balance of the other investors that we've got from America and wherever else, I'm really excited about that side of things, about the skill sets that are now coming into English cricket," he said. The deal will take effect from 2026 season and the investors will take operation control of the franchise from October 1, 2025. Asked about the reason for the delay in closing the agreement with the Reliance-backed Oval franchise and Trent Rockets, Banerji said: "Right at the start we offered all the investors the opportunity to sign and close immediately whenever the legals were all done and have some involvement in this year. "On the whole, it's been run as it was, or close formally at the end of the season, early October, when they close formally, when they take operational control of the name of the brand. So those two chose that months ago. "With Trent Rockets, it's documents were signed and all the rest of it fully there. With the Oval Invincibles, there's three things left on their venue hire stuff that they're working through. They're small things, it'll be a matter of weeks, and that'll get signed out." Banerji and the rest of the stakeholders will soon have a meeting with the new investors for the tournament operations from 2026 onwards. Barring The Hundred, all leagues including the IPL are being played in the T20 format. Is there an inclination from the IPL owners to switch to the standard T20 format from the current 100-ball a side format? "I think you have to look at what works in this country. There have been some discussions around kind of it works elsewhere, but in this country, the format has provided us with some really interesting things, especially from a broadcast perspective in terms of the reach it's provided and that ability to create a new crowd. "At the moment, it's the 100 format, and that will remain for now. But let's see where we get to in a month," said Banerji, who added the participation of active Indian players remains off the card despite the IPL investment into the competition. Sitting alongside Banerji, ECB chief executive Richard Gould, was also asked about the participation of Pakistan players in The Hundred in light of Indian investment. No Pakistan player was picked in the 2025 draft for different reasons. Gould asserted the ECB will take action if the owners are found to be discriminatory in player selection irrespective of his nationality. "We would expect players of all nations to be selected for all teams. I haven't had the need to have any discussion at this point (with new investors)." So is the latest draft just a coincidence? "I don't, I don't know. But we have not had any discussions with the owners at this point. But, we've got very clear anti-discrimination policies within cricket in England. And if those are, if those are not adhered to, our cricket regulator will take action," said Gould. Now that the deals are done, the ECB expects the change in name of at least three teams backed by IPL team owners including Reliance, RPSG and GMR. The sale of stakes have catapulted the valuation of teams to over 975 million pounds with more than 500 million pounds set to be invested in English cricket.
