IPL governing council to talk with franchises before finalising revised match timings

After facing opposition from franchises on revised match timings for the Indian Premier League (IPL), its governing council has now decided to take a relook on the matter.

Last week, IPL governing council had announced revised timings of IPL matches.

The evening matches, which used to start at 8 pm, were advanced to 7 pm, while day matches were postponed from 4 pm to 5:30 pm. The move was opposed by some of the franchises.


“The broadcaster (Star India) had request (to change timings) and the GC considered the request during its meeting. After that we have received objections from a couple of franchises. We'll discuss with the franchises and the broadcasters. We'll arrive at a decision in an amicable way,” Rajeev Shukla, chairman, IPL told reporters here.

While the revised timings would have made sense for the broadcaster, as that would have ensured more primetime viewers, franchises were cagy about the fact that overlap on double header days will drive away sponsors.

Meanwhile, on availability of foreign players, Shukla said that the board is making provision for foreign cricket boards to get a bigger share if they send players for the entire IPL season

As per the plan, BCCI will increase respective cricket boards’ share to 20% of the players’s fee, from current 10%.

“We have made a provision that whichever board provides its players for the entire duration (of IPL), we will pay the board 20%,” Shukla said.

It is pertinent to note that when IPL started in 2008, foreign boards were offered 10% share of their players’ fee.

Initially, franchises were paying the fee to the foreign boards, but later the cost was borne by BCCI.

BCCI sources say that the discussions are on and some of the board members are of the view that why should BCCI take the cost on itself now that franchises are set to earn more.