BCCI defers decision on Kochi IPL franchise's fate

NEW DELHI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India has once again deferred its decision on the Kochi IPL franchise's fate till December 5 in the IPL governing council meeting in Nagpur on Sunday.

The IPL governing council will study the ownership pattern of the Kochi franchise to take a call on the fate of the team.

"Our legal experts will study the papers before coming into conclusion on Kochi franchise," said BCCI president Shashank Manohar.

The owners of the beleaguered Kochi IPL franchise have made a last ditch attempt to save the outfit by reaching a compromise, sources said on Sunday.

"Apparently, Kochi sent across some sort of correspondence last evening to the BCCI but it is upto the cricket board to accept that," sources close to the development said.

"We do not yet know that they (BCCI) will be convinced. Else they will float the tenders (for a new team)," they added.

The investor group of the franchise, which was earlier bought for a staggering sum of Rs 1533.33 crore, had written to the BCCI informing them of their intention to withdraw from the IPL, two days before the expiry of the 30-day notice period which ended on Saturday.

The BCCI, which had on October 10, expelled Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan Royals from the IPL for allegedly violating contractual agreements, had given the termination of 30 days to sort out is internal disputes regarding the shareholding pattern of the franchise.