Kochi: Kerala's cricket lovers yesterday were shocked at the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) decision to terminate the Kochi Tuskers' contract for defaulting on annual payment of Rs1.56 billion (Dh120.05 million).
Former Kerala cricket captain P. Balachandran expressing his dismay said: "We got the IPL team after a lot of heartburn with regard to the ownership issue. And finally when we got it, many felt the issues have been solved.
"This had brought a lot of cheer to numerous youngsters who felt that they would eventually get a chance to play top class cricket. Now it appears things have gone from bad to worse, with today's decision."
Bank guarantee
Kerala Cricket Association secretary T.C. Mathew said that the Kochi franchise had to provide the bank guarantee latest by tomorrow.
"Even though they agreed that they would do the needful, they refrained from giving the official letter to this effect and hence this unfortunate decision was taken and the termination notice was served," said Mathew.
The franchise was bought by a consortium, comprising some Gujarat-based businessmen, last year for a whopping Rs15.50 billion. According to rules, franchises have to pay the amount in 10 equal instalments.
The Kochi franchise was in trouble right from the start. Shashi Tharoor, former minister for state for external affairs, did the spade work to cobble the franchise together but lost his job after allegations surfaced that Sunanda Pushkar, then his friend whom he later married, was given sweat equity.
