Another IPL team on cards; HC to hear Deccan case on Monday

The Board of Control for Cricket for India's (BCCI) special general body meeting on Saturday decided to expand the IPL team by adding one franchise or more for the next season. The board, however, did not take any decision on terminating the Deccan Chargers franchise. After the Mumbai High Court intervened earlier in the day, BCCI has left it to the court to rule on the franchisee's participation.

Bankers to the debt-ladden Deccan Chronicle Holdings Ltd (DCHL) are understood to have informed the BCCI that it could form a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to run a the team and have offered to pay R32 crore, part of the R90 crore of players' dues. However, sources said BCCI members were not keen on the new idea and have intimated their views to the bankers. The board is understood to have told both DC representatives and bankers that since the court is seized of the matter, it would wait till Monday, before taking any concrete action.

DCHL had moved the Mumbai High Court seeking a stay against the BCCI's decision after Deccan Chargers' contract with IPL was terminated on Friday night. The court will hear the parties on Monday.

Meanwhile, sources said the BCCI has decided to add a new team in the sixth edition of IPL and as such, eight cities will be in fray when the bidding takes place. The winning bidder will have to accommodate the Deccan players for one year if the franchise is ultimately scrapped from the IPL. "There was a feeling that it is ideal to have 10 teams. Even if DC survives, one more franchise could be accommodated," sources said.

The BCCI meet was attended by N Srinivasan, Jagmohan Dalmia, Arun Jaitley and Rajiv Shukla, among others. "The Court heard both parties, and did not pass any order staying the termination. The matter has been placed for hearing on Monday. The information that the termination of the franchise has been stayed is incorrect," the release said.

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