Chennai-based Chettinad Cement is confident ahead of the auction for two franchises in the Indian Premier League at a New Delhi hotel on Tuesday.
The Hindu has learnt from a source close to the company that it would go “all out” to win one of the franchises. “We want the franchise to stay in Chennai. The cricket fans of the city deserve a team. The city has some of the most knowledgeable and passionate fans in the country.”
Chettinad Cement has been associated with cricket in the city; its team in the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association League, Nunkambakkam CC, earned promotion from fifth to fourth division this season.
The source added: “The top brass of the company is in Delhi. We are not bothered that even if we win our bid, we would we able to keep the team for only two years. We will get a lot of mileage for our firm in these two years. Plus, we would be doing our bit for cricket in the city. We are after all a Chennai company.”
If it indeed clinches the bid, the company will strive to keep the franchise in the city.
However, if it faces constraints such as the three stands (I, J and K) not being available due to lack of clearance from the city corporation, then the company could have a plan B in place.
In that scenario Visakhapatnam is Chettinad Cement’s second option. The company has a base there.
The source said: “From our side, we are confident and determined. But at the end of the day, it is an auction and we have to go by its rules. Let the best bidder win.”
