State associations express to the BCCI their inability to host IPL matches

The cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL) is a profitable event for the franchises, players, the board as well as the state associations that host the games. But 33 days ahead of the tournament Associations have put their hands up in the air and are waiting for the financial assistance from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to initiate the preparations for the biggest annual sporting event in the country.

BCCI gives an advance of 30 lakh per game to the state bodies which is matched by the IPL franchise for hosting the matches which allows them to arrange for the various facilities during the matches, security, to prepare the ground and make provisions for the hospitality of the teams as well. But this year until today the money hasn’t been sourced to the concerned associations and they are thus expressing their inability to set things up on time if there is any further delay.

“Every year around this time we receive the advance payment from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). But this has not happened till now. We need the money to start preparing for the tournament. It will be quite difficult to stage an event of this magnitude on our own if we do not get the advance soon,” a Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) source was quoted by Sportskeeda.

Reports also suggest that in a meeting with the BCCI not just the CAB but Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) also mentioned that they already have over dues with the board and unless that is cleared and IPL advance is paid hosting IPL matches would not be possible. Other state bodies also expressed the need for funds to go ahead with any preparations as they are all facing a financial crunch.

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The responsibilities of the Indian board might have been taken over by the Committee of Administrators appointed by the Supreme Court of India but the financial decisions will be made with a green signal from the Lodha Committee also appointed by the apex court. The COA certainly hasn’t quite managed to get a hang of things to ensure smooth functioning.

With the IPL fast approaching it will be interesting to see how the inexperienced members of the COA coordinate with others in the board and IPL governing council as finances is just one of the challenges they will face in the duration of the IPL.