IPL 10 Uncertain: State Associations Facing Cash Problems

The Indian Premier League 2017 is staring at the likelihood of being scraped. According to reports, state cricket associations are under feeling serious financial stress which may render them incapable of hosting matches. The associations haven’t received any aid from the Board of Control for Cricket in India to help them prepare for the cricket extravaganza. A meeting was held on Tuesday in Mumbai to discuss the matter.

Every state association that hosts an IPL match receives Rs.60 lacs as grant. Of the total amount, exactly 50 percent of the amount, which is Rs.30 lacs is received from the IPL franchisee while the remaining is provided by the BCCI. This money is spent on matches, practice sessions, ground preparation and staff, floodlights among others.

Previously the associations received an amount in advance from the BCCI while the remaining amount would flow over the course of the tournament and later. However, last year the Supreme Court directed that no funds from the BCCI would be released to state cricket associations unless they adopted the reforms recommended by the Lodha commission. Following the court’s order the test, ODI and T20 series against New Zealand, England, Bangladesh and Australia were in trouble as the state associations declared their inability to bear the expenses. The Supreme court had then granted relaxation allowing the release of funds for the associations to be able to host these matches.

Still the associations’ financial health is bad. It is learnt that the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) is still owed money by the BCCI, the amount being in crores of rupees. The tussle between the Supreme Court and BCCI has hit the state associations hard, some of which have even expressed their helplessness at conducting domestic matches. Unless they see the greens, chances of an IPL are bleak.

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