IPL 2020: BCCI Unlikely To Roll Back Slashed Playoff Fund - IPL Chief Brijesh Patel

Franchises of the four teams qualifying for the playoffs were being awarded from a ‘playoff standing fund’ of INR 50 Crore, with the winners getting INR 20 Crore. This prize fund has been halved by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCI) BCCI, which has argued that the franchises are now self-sufficient. Speaking of the same, Brijesh Patel feels the decision will remain the same even after the IPL team’s request.

BCCI’s decision to reduce the amount that the eight franchises would have received had met with opposition.

The franchises have written to BCCI asking it to reconsider the move, but IPL chairman Brijesh Patel felt that the decision will remain the same in all likelihood. He further added that the plea by franchises will put forward on IPL governing council meet.

It’s unlikely we can have any change – Brijesh Patel

The point of contention is the BCCI decision to raise the venue staging fee for franchises from INR 30 Lakh to INR 50 Lakh, payable to the associations that stage the matches.

“The franchises’ views will be put up before the IPL Governing Council that will meet soon. Then we will decide. But it’s unlikely that we can have any change,” Patel said.

“This fund was in place because the franchisees told us in 2013 that they were not making money in IPL. Now they are doing well. It’s just a major loss in profits (for them),” he added.

However, some franchises are upbeat. They are hopeful as their presenting a collective view itself is a first and reflects the strength and feel some among the BCCI top brass could be considerate. Regarding the same, they wrote a letter to BCCI requesting the same.

In the letter to BCCI, the franchises call the fund “a strong incentive for teams to continually improve the performance”.

It adds: “We collectively believe rewinding that will be a step backwards in the progress of the IPL.”