BCCI points to panel for delay in IPL bid

NEW DELHI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) termed the postponement of closing its IPL media rights deal on “events that were unforeseen”.

“The BCCI invested a lot of time and money in framing a tender with norms to ensure the highest levels of transparency,” a BCCI statement said. “But in the absence of permission from the (Lodha) Committee to go ahead with the process scheduled for Wednesday, the BCCI is unable to do so,” the statement added. Pointing to the Lodha committee for the delay, the BCCI further said: “It was expected that the new IPL season rights that were to be awarded would bring in huge revenue for cricket and expectations amongst the BCCI, players and the cricket loving public ran high in the build up.

“The BCCI also informed the Committee that any delay and resultant uncertainty was hurting the commercial interest of the BCCI as it would lead to devaluation of the rights.”