The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Franchise owners to reimburse costs of matches

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 17, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Franchise owners to reimburse costs of matches

Special Correspondent

Mumbai: Franchise owners have to defray the expenses incurred by BCCI member units for each match of the DLF-Indian Premier League Twenty20 championship.

The sum could be upwards of Rs.50 lakh per match.

“During the ICC Champions Trophy competition in India, the BCCI had prepared a budget of Rs.50 lakh per match to be paid by the ICC.

“This includes making available infrastructure, preparation of the ground and pitch, floodlights, electricity, security, media box and all such expenses incurred by the staging association for a match. The associations have to submit bills to claim reimbursement,” said the BCCI Chief Administrative Officer, Ratnakar Shetty, who has been appointed in-charge of the venues for the 44-day 59-match competition.

The Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) Group, which owns the Mumbai Indians, would end up reimbursing Rs.5 crore towards the seven home matches and the two semifinals and a final at the D.Y. Patil International Stadium and Wankhede Stadium.

The officials of Reliance Group, Mumbai Cricket Association and D.Y. Patil International Stadium are to meet here on Monday to select the venue for the ten matches.

Highest bidder

The RIL Group was the highest bidder ($111.9 million) for Mumbai Indians and hence chose Mumbai for the weekend final matches. It may opt for Wankhede Stadium for the semifinals and final.

“It would be ideal to stage the three knock-out matches at one venue because the franchise will have to bear the costs of a second crew, whereas the official broadcaster is committed to one,” said Prof. Shetty.

The International Management Group (IMG), which has been given the responsibility of running the competition, has a fair idea of the facilities at the nine venues. The DLF-IPL will give an opportunity for the staging associations to improve and upgrade facilities.

Reimbursement

The eight franchises put together are likely to reimburse around Rs.30 crore of the expenses incurred by Mumbai (Wankhede and D.Y. Patil Stadium), Punjab (Mohali), Kolkata (Eden Gardens), Hyderabad (Uppal), Chennai (M.A. Chidambaram Stadium), Bangalore (M. Chinnaswamy Stadium), Jaipur (Sawai Mansingh Stadium) and Delhi (Feroz Shah Kotla).

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport