Mukesh Patel, co-director of Kochi Cricket, who ran Kochi Tuskers Kerala tells Aby Jose that a few powerful teams and their backers in BCCI rule the roost.
Considering the investment and stakes involved, do you think IPL is run in a professional manner?
Not at all. Those in charge of the affairs kept changing rules all the time to suit the teams they were in favour of. For example, Chris Gayle joined RCB as a replacement player in IPL-4. In the ensuing Champions League, Dirk Nannes, for whom Gayle had come in as a replacement, and Gayle played together. For that, the rule book was tweaked.
Similarly, when the tender process of the teams was going on, we were told that all the players would be accessible to us through auction, before the retaining rule came in and changed the entire equation.
What changes would you suggest to the IPL to make its administration better?
It’s very simple: Team owners should be given more say in crucial matters pertaining to the league. They should be represented in the IPL Governing Council. Out of 10 teams in the league, four have either been terminated or left on their own. In four years, BCCI has managed to take out 40 per cent of the league, although some of the teams did win their way back into the league.
Did you ever anticipate such a terrible experience at the hands of the richest sports body in the country?
Considering the amount of money pumped in, we could have never risked all like that. The two most expensive franchisees are not part of the IPL anymore, and that shows nobody cares a whit about all this. IPL is a closed group where the vested interests of a limited few are always protected. A powerful figure technically doesn’t own the team, but everyone knows that he runs the show in that particular franchisee.
Do you think that an association of IPL owners like, say, in Formula One could have given the franchisees more bargaining powers with the BCCI?
I don’t think so, because IPL is a place where the majority’s opinion doesn’t matter. Take the example of the player retention rule after the 2010 edition. Eight of the 10 franchisees, including us, opposed the retention and two were for it. Finally, the wishes of Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians were granted.
What do you think of Sahara pulling out of IPL?
It’s absolutely justified. It is quite intriguing as to why the rule book comes out from nowhere only in the case of certain teams. Subrata Roy’s stand makes sense because with the huge investment he has made, he should be given the opportunity to field a competent side. Yuvraj is their biggest player and his absence should have been compensated.
KTK have lost most of their players in the auction. Do you think a re-entry is possible?
We have gone for arbitration and have sent notices to BCCI. We are awaiting their reply.