BCCI to commence post-Lalit Modi era in IPL tomorrow

The post-Lalit Modi era in the Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to commence tomorrow when Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) office bearers and the franchisees meet to discuss the way forward after the financial scandal that led to the IPL commissioner's suspension.

"It's the first meeting of the BCCI office bearers with the IPL franchisee owners after the conclusion of the third  season. That's all which can be said to the media," said BCCI's CAO, professor Ratnakar Shetty when asked about the agenda for the meeting.

There are enough indications that this meeting, to be followed the next day by the governing council meeting of the
Twenty20 League to be chaired by Chirayu Amin, will chart the roadmap for the season ahead in the post-Modi scenario.

All the happenings during the run-up to the suspension of Modi and afterwards are expected to be presented to the 10 franchisee owners/representatives who would attend the meeting at the BCCI's headquarters.

The franchisees are bound to air their views about the future conduct of the IPL, in particular about the number of matches and format of the tournament with the addition of two more teams - Pune and Kochi - and modalities for the new players' auction.

If played as per the existing home and away format, the 60-game event would balloon to 94 games, which has raised concerns about player burn-outs and injuries.

BCCI officials are bound to take the broader view by pencilling in the hectic schedule of the Indian team before and after the IPL.

The 2011 World Cup, scheduled from February 19-April 2, is immediately preceding IPL 4 after the Indian team completes
a home series against Australia and New Zealand followed by a tour of South Africa.

Though a visit to the West Indies is scheduled but not confirmed as per the ICC's Future Tours Programme in April-May, but it seems unlikely as the dates are set to clash with IPL.

A full tour of England, from July to September, is on the cards to leave the top Indian cricketers very little breathing time before and after the T20 League.

Reduced number of matches in IPL may not be to the liking of every franchisee as their revenues would take a hit and it is to be seen how the Board officials negotiate this tricky issue.

The number of Indian and overseas players who can be retained by the original eight franchisees when the players' auction is held before the start of the next season is another contentious issue that will come up for debate in the meeting.

These issues, and the franchisees' views on them, would be put up before the governing council on Friday.

The decisions taken at the governing council meeting are set to come up for ratification at the special general meeting of the BCCI that has been convened by the BCCI on July 3.