Beleaguered BCCI may shift Rajasthan Royals’ home IPL games over venue issues

By C.Rajshekhar Rao

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW DELHI — The Rajasthan Royals could be forced to move their home matches from Jaipur in the Indian Premier League because of payment issues with their stadium owner.

It’s the second financial blow this week for the Royals, who are already planning to contest an $18.8 million fine handed down by India’s Enforcement Directorate for flouting foreign exchange rules.

They have been given only one day by the Board of Control for Cricket in India to settle matters with their stadium owner or risk losing IPL home games, The Times of India reported on Wednesday.

“RCA (Rajasthan Cricket Association) has been given time until Wednesday before BCCI decides to shift the matches out of Rajasthan,” Gujarat Cricket Association secretary Rajesh Patel was quoted as saying. “If they are allotted to GCA, we will be more than happy to host them.”

The Royals are in dispute over payments with the Rajasthan State Sports Council, which owns Jaipur’s Sawai Man Singh Stadium.

The state council has refused to renew its memorandum of understanding with the Royals, which means the only international-standard cricket stadium in the city may not be available to the team.

The Royals, who won the inaugural IPL in 2008, are already facing a testing time after the fine.

“We are discussing the contents of the order with our lawyers and intend to launch a full appeal against the order,” the Royals said in a statement. “We will not be making any further statement on this matter at this time.”

The BCCI is facing troubles of its own after being served a $433 million income tax notice.

The board has been deemed to be ineligible for certain income tax benefits since a change in its objectives in 2006 and its launch of the commercial and cash-rich IPL.

The Mail Today newspaper reported on Monday that the BCCI has formed a committee headed by treasurer Ajay Shirke to finalize its plan of action in respect to the tax issues.

The BCCI, when contacted by The Associated Press, did not want to comment immediately on the tax issue and details of the committee.

The BCCI has had a troubled history with its IPL franchises and has scrapped two teams over payment and ownership issues in the past.

Hyderabad franchise the Deccan Chargers was replaced by the Hyderabad Sunrisers under a new owner this year, while the Kochi Tuskers were terminated after only one year in 2011.

The Pune Warriors, who were added with the Tuskers to the original eight teams in 2011, also announced they were withdrawing from the IPL last year before arriving at a compromise with the BCCI.

The IPL previously ousted the Royals and the Kings XI Punjab over breaches of ownership rules before they were re-admitted following a court order.

04:59ET 06-02-13