Sponsor Pepsi and broadcaster Sony keep 'fingers crossed' as IPL remains on a cliff

[Basil]

Sponsor Pepsi and broadcaster Sony keep 'fingers crossed' as IPL remains on a cliff edge ​

Til Wednesday afternoon, Indian Premier League chairman Ranjib Biswal was confident that there was no cause for concern as far as the seventh edition of the cash-rich tournament was concerned.

He was also of the belief that the ongoing hearing in the Supreme Court adhered only to BCCI chief N. Srinivasan and the previous edition of the IPL.

But the last 24 hours have put the future of the IPL in the realm of uncertainty.

While it all started with SC judges A.K. Patnaik and Ibrahim Kalifulla proposing suspension for Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals on Thursday, and only got worse, with the IPL Governing Council having to cancel a launch press conference in Abu Dhabi.

Title sponsor Pepsi and host broadcaster Sony are keeping their fingers crossed and waiting for the apex court's judgment on Friday before taking a final call.

It may seem possible to host the tournament with only six teams, but according to the contract between the BCCI and MSM (Multi-Screen Media Pvt. Ltd) there must be at least eight teams in the competition.

It remains to be seen if BCCI manages to convince the host broadcasters.

MSM president Rohit Gupta refused to speak on the clauses in the contract, but made it clear they are waiting with bated breath for the court verdict.

"I am not in a position to talk about the contract as it is strictly between MSM and the BCCI. Tomorrow is an important day and we will be following how things pan out.

At the end of the day, it is the BCCI who will inform us how things have to be taken forward," Gupta told Mail Today.

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Even Pepsi aren't too happy with the situation and may be regretting their decision to join hands with the IPL.

After the fixing fiasco last year, their first year as title sponsors, they are now set to suffer huge losses if the tournament is not held this year.

"The matter is sub-judice.

"We would not like to offer any comment," a PepsiCo India spokesperson told Mail today.

But the same can't be said about people in the IPL GC. While they are still keeping their fingers crossed, they realise that the image of the IPL has taken further beating.

"I don't think it is end of the road yet, but the reputation of the IPL has definitely taken a beating after the apex court's proposals on Thursday.

"We are all hoping that things don't deteriorate further on Friday. We are on the edge of the cliff at present and the future doesn't look too great at this point of time.

"The GC will definitely meet post tomorrow's decision to discuss the future plan of action," a GC member told Mail Today.

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