IPL GC has 10 points to deliberate upon; but Government nod still awaited

The Indian Premier League Governing Council will go ahead with its scheduled digital meeting even as the Government nod for staging the league in the UAE is still awaited.

The suspense is not just about the Government nod, but also the presence of the Board of Control for Cricket in India president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah, who have technically completed their terms in the BCCI. According to national news agency PTI, both are expected to join the e-meeting as permanent invitees along with treasurer Arun Dhumal and joint secretary Jayesh Shah.

The meeting will be spearheaded by the GC chairman Brijesh Patel

With regard to the Government permission, the file has been cleared by the Ministry of the Youth Affairs and Sports, while a go ahead from the Ministry of External Affairs on participation of foreign players and staging the league in the UAE and from the Home Ministry on security aspect is still awaited.

The nod from the three ministries is a standard practice for sanctioning a sports event license by the Government of India.

The agenda for the key meeting tomorrow will also include the discussion on the “controversial” issue of sponsorship by Chinese companies. Update on the Government nod is also reportedly included in the agenda.

TEN COMMANDMENTS – THE AGENDA

1. Approval of Minutes of previous meetings
2. Update on the Government approval to stage the league to the UAE
3. Schedule and Duration: The GC will be completing the formality of putting the stamp of authority on the dates (expected from September 19 to November 8 as per reports) and finalise the schedule
4. Chinese Sponsorship: The “controversial” matter of sponsorship by Chinese companies has been referred to the GC
5. Standard Operating Procedures: The squads strength, bio-bubble, size of the contingent and operating procedures for the players, franchisees, officials and other associates will be confirmed
6. GC Travel for the IPL in the UAE
7. Player Replacement: Guidelines on replacement of players if the members of the original squad are not able to join the team or will have to leave for some reasons
8. ACU activities: Decision on acquiring support team for BCCI’s eight ACU officers and seeking help from the ACU team of the Board of Control for Cricket in India
9. Medical Unit: Call on the BCCI medical unit for travel to the UAE
10. Meeting with experts who devised ECB’s bio-bubble