IPL franchisees decides to form a ‘union’

Zeecric Bureau

New Delhi: Challenge the monopoly of IPL Chairman Lalit Modi, all the IPL franchisees have decided to form an association to maximise revenues and safeguard their interests.

IPL owners recently met in Bangkok and agreed to form an association which will be called ‘Franchisees United’.

However, the whole thing is in its initial days and will take some time before it comes to see the daylight.

It is believed that the decision of forming a ‘union’ came after the ‘powerful’ IPL governing body led by Lalit Modi declared that from 2011 all the players can be re-auctioned. Though most of the owners don’t want that to happen, they were finding it difficult to voice their opinion in an appropriate manner.

"More than the players some of the franchises want to have their players retained. It does not suit the module because two new teams will be coming in. Without big players playing for them there would be no value may be that is the reason the IPL wants players back in the pool again," said Venkat Reddy, CEO of Deccan Chargers.

Many players though aren`t happy at the thought that they have no choice in the matter.

"It is very important for the franchises to adopt a similar model to football where the iconic players and the franchise stars remain as properties with some of those franchises. Similar to Rooney at Manchester United, Freddie Flintoff, MSD, Matthew Hayden should be able to remain within the franchise because the fan base becomes extremely connected to that," Matthew Hayden of Chennai Super Kings said.