Parties hope to sign on the dotted line soon
MUMBAI: The Champions League T 20 is just days away but the CL Board is yet to sign an agreement with the Cricket Club of India, one of the three venues for the multi-million dollar tournament. According to sources in the BCCI and the CCI, a ‘few issues’ are coming in the way of a formal pact between the two parties.
Neither side was willing to discuss those issues but both the CCI and the CL authorities have taken quite some time in their bid hammer out a formal pact. “I cannot say anything because we’re yet to sign on the dotted lines. In every agreement, there are a few issues. We are negotiating. Hopefully we will sign the agreement soon,” Kamaljeet Rajpal, the CEO of the CCI told DNA.
Similar was the reply of a top CL official who said there has to be some kind of give-and-take. “We are confident we will come to an agreement soon,” said the official.
However, the response was almost the same when DNA approached the two parties about a week ago. One issue, DNA has learnt, was accommodation of the members and the guests of the two sides. The CCI has been insisting that it cannot ignore the rights of its members. At the same time, the CL Board has its own guests who have to be given accommodation in the club house.
One way out is that the CCI will leave space for the CL guests in the Club House in exchange of some space for its members in one of the main stands. Another important issue is the money to be paid to the club for letting out the stadium. Neither side was willing to discuss the matter. “I cannot say at this stage because we have not signed the agreement,” said Rajpal, while the Board official maintained that it cannot comment on the matter.
The Brabourne Stadium will host only three of the 15 matches of the football style tournament to be held from December 3 to 5. Chennai and Bangalore are other venues.
The eight-day tournament, among the top domestic T20 sides of India, Pakistan, Australia, South Africa and England, could not have more matches in the city because of forthcoming Test between Indian and England. As per the rules, no match can be played at a Test venue two weeks before the start of a Test match. The India-England, the second of the two-Test series, will be held at the CCI from December 19 to 23. It, incidentally, is commemorative match of India’s 75 years Test cricket.
