New Delhi: The BCCI and the aggrieved Sahara Group on Thursday reached a compromise after a series of hectic negotiations over the past few days, paving the way for Pune Warriors’ participation in the fifth edition of the IPL.
Sahara, which had severed ties with the Board and withdrawn the Team India sponsorship on February 4, will return as a sponsor following the truce which brought an end to the 12-day stalemate.
The major concessions Pune Warriors got was an extension of the trading window till the end of February, re-activation of their auction purse, the possibility of being allowed five foreign players (subject to the agreement of the other franchises), and an arbitrator to decide on their demand for a concession in the franchise fee.
Both BCCI and Sahara issued a joint statement, giving details of the agreement.
Regarding the contentious issue of replacement for marquee player Yuvraj Singh, who is undergoing treatment for cancer in United States, Sahara has offered to obtain the consent of all the franchises for fielding five foreign players for the IPL matches.
“The trading window, which was due to close on Friday 17 February, until Wednesday 29 February 2012 to give Pune Warriors India the opportunity to have successful negotiations with other franchises as it looks to strengthen its squad,” the joint statement said.
“Re-activation of the Auction Purse of Pune Warriors India so that it can take a number of players, subject to the squad composition regulations,” it added.
The BCCI and Sahara also agreed to start the arbitration proceedings initiated by Sahara through appointment of an arbitrator to address the corporate giant’s claims for a reduction in franchise fee for 74 matches.
The BCCI also did not have any issues with Sahara seeking a strategic partner in the Pune Warriors India franchise, subject to terms of the Franchise Agreement.
“In respect of their request to sign overseas players who were not included in the Auction Register, subject to the relevant player regulations, BCCI agrees to the request subject to the views of all other franchise,” the joint statement, signed by BCCI President N Srinivasan and Sahara Group Chairman Subrata Roy, said.
Sahara also requested for one of the play-off matches scheduled to be played in Bengaluru to be played in Pune, and the BCCI said it was in principle agreeable to host one of the play-off in the new Pune stadium subject to the consent of Royal Challengers Bangalore.
The right to host the Play Off matches is awarded to the finalists from previous edition, in this case Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Sahara has also requested to furnish the Bank Guarantee against the Franchisee fee in two installments and the BCCI has agreed to consider it at the next available opportunity.
“Notwithstanding the recent working committee decision rejecting 5 foreign players in the playing XI, in consideration of the exceptional circumstance and the non-availability of Yuvraj Singh, Sahara has offered to obtain the consent of all the franchises for the submission to the BCCI,” said the statement said.(PTI)