IPL 2018: Teams vs BCCI and Star Sports over newly-proposed match timings
Mumbai: A day after Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Rajeev Shukla stated that the matches in the eleventh edition of the tournament are likely see change in the timings, it is reported that the IPL teams are not in favour of this change.
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Shukla had said that the IPL Governing Council had accepted broadcasters Star Sports’ request to push the 4 PM matches to 5.30 PM and reschedule the 8 PM start of the games to 7 PM for the IPL 2018.
“The broadcaster has requested for change in timings. By and large the GC has accepted it. It gets too late in the night if the game starts at 8pm," said Shukla after the IPL Governing Council meeting in New Delhi on Monday.
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However, the teams are reportedly not in favour of the proposed change in timings of the matches. Apparently, they are not happy with the fact that they, being one of the biggest stakeholders, were not taken into consideration as the decision was made.
"The franchises are not in agreement with this proposal and will take it up with the IPL. They are in fact quite not very happy that something as important as this hasn't even discussed with them," sources, who are familiar with the developments, were quoted as saying by Times of India.
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One of the officials from the IPL Governing Council said that the broadcasters are keen for rescheduling the games to attract maximum eyeballs which will their ratings.
"Star Sports is of the view that the matches need to start early to ensure that the people in the interiors watch the action too. It will improve the ratings," said a Governing Council official.
Shukla, meanwhile, said that no final decision is made in connection with change in timings of the matches.
"The IPL Governing Council considered the request of the broadcaster to have a 7pm match. The final decision will be taken after the taking the views of the other stakeholders," concluded Shukla.
