BCCI President wanted change in bid norms

Tue, Mar 09 2010 (Cric Buzz) - BCCI President Shashank Manohar had strong objections to the freshly included controversial clauses in the tender process on Sunday, the day the two new owners for the 2011 IPL season were to be announced. It was this that caused the process to be postponed, claimed vice-chairman of the IPL governing council Niranjan Shah in an interview with the Indian Express.

"The (BCCI) president felt a few clauses were too stiff and he wanted some modifications. Since the president's approval is necessary for going ahead with the process and naming the winning bids, the entire process was cancelled and we asked for fresh tenders, which will now be opened on March 21," Shah was quoted as saying.

"The tournament has been launched under the BCCI banner and the committee, which runs the tournament and sets the rules and regulations for the franchises, is formed by the cricket board. The BCCI is the final authority in all cricket-related matters in the country. It is mandatory to have the BCCI president's approval before the IPL committee decides on anything," Shah continued.

His statement was pregnant with meaning, in that it showed clearly that however big and successful the IPL became, it was still a part of the BCCI.

The bidding process had changed from the inaugural season, and unlike the first season, the bidders for the new franchises had to establish that their net worth was $1 billion. An advance guarantee of $100 million as well as a rolling bank guarantee for the sum of the winning bid had to be provided as well.

These clauses had forced some big names, including Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and Muthoot Group, to back out.

The Indian Express report also quoted a letter from the Indian team's chief sponsor Sahara, as saying, "Why is it necessary (for the corporates) to have a net worth of $1 billion to bid for an IPL team?"

Manohar reportedly drove home this very question during the governing council meeting, with the result that commissioner Lalit Modi had to drop the existing process and modify the terms for bidding.

"The new process will be less complicated and will be easier for potential franchises," Shah said.