The executive committee of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) which met under the chairmanship of its president G. Vinod on Thursday, unanimously resolved not to pay any compensation to Visaka Industries with regard to hosting the Indian Premier League matches here next month.
“We have decided not to pay come what may as it would mean HCA ending up losing about Rs. 1.5 crore for the eight IPL matches featuring the home team Sunrisers,” a senior official of HCA said.
IPL rules
According to the IPL rules, the host association has to hand over a clean stadium (without any advertisements). However, Visaka claims are contrary. Now, there are serious doubts whether the IPL matches will be held at all in the city if the HCA sticks to its stand of non-payment.
BCCI meeting today
The BCCI working committee meeting scheduled on Friday is likely to debate the issue even as the HCA seems to be prepared to lose the IPL matches because of this controversy.
Visaka Group is owned by G. Vivekanand, MP and also EC member of HCA, who also happens to be the brother of HCA president G. Vinod. The group has been insisting that HCA pay the money in lieu of its agreement for the financial assistance rendered for the construction of the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Uppal. The group cited the court order in this regard which suggested that status quo should be maintained even as the issue was pending before an arbitration panel.
K. V. Soorianarayanan, Visakha Group company secretary-cum-advisor insists that the money given to HCA was purely on commercial basis. “Visaka is entitled for these rights irrespective of the type of match held as is clearly mentioned in the Clause 2 (A) ix which states for the removal of doubts, it is expressly agreed and stated here that the places\space and facilities aforesaid shall be reserved for the exclusive use of the company and at all times irrespective of whether there is or there is not any match or other event being held or conducted or taking place in the said stadium.”
