Answers to 12 Big Questions After the IPL Spot-fixing Verdict

What happens to the players? Can the team owners appeal? Will we have 6 teams in IPL9? All your questions answerd.

Gurunath Meiyappan and Raj Kundra . (Photo: PTI)

1. What is the extent of the punishment that Raj Kundra and Gurunath Meiyappan will now face?

Both Raj Kundra and Gurunath Meiyappan have been banned for life from cricket. Additionally, both have also been suspended from participating in the sport of cricket for five years.

2. Can they own an IPL team after 5 years or is their IPL involvement over for life?

Effectively, both Raj Kundra and Gurunath Meiyappan’s involvement in all cricket is over for life. The panel’s verdict finds them guilty of bringing disrepute to the game and so, they can have no further role in cricket, in any form, for life.

3. What is the extent of the punishment that the owners of Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings will face?

The owners of Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings cannot be part of the IPL for two years. Also, they cannot be involved in any IPL related activity for these two years. But the order does not bar them from being part of cricket per se. In a nutshell, the owners of Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings have been handed a ban from all activities of IPL for two years.

(Photo: PTI)

4. Will Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals play next year?

Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals cannot play next year as per the verdict of the Justice Lodha Committee. The committee’s decision is final and binding. But if a challenge is presented to the order in court, then maybe things can change. But it all depends on the legal opinion provided by the lawyers.

5. Can the owners of CSK and RR challenge the orders of the Lodha Committee?

The decision of the Lodha Committee is final and binding. The CSK and RR management can look at legal options to see if a curative petition can be filed to challenge the order.

6. What will happen to the players of CSK and RR? Will they have to face auction again?

Again, this is something which is being discussed because the verdict opens up a whole host of possibilities for everyone. But one thing is certain, the players will definitely be seen in action.

(Photo: Reuters)

7. What is the possibility of the ownership of CSK and RR changing hands?

It could well be that, on the lines of Hyderabad getting a new team in the form of Sun Group, Chennai and Rajasthan could get two new owners. Or there could be two new teams, not necessarily from Chennai and Rajasthan.

8. What is the possibility of the management of CSK and RR changing hands?

The management of CSK and Rajasthan Royals have been suspended as an entity from taking part in the IPL for two years. So, if at all the management changes, it has to be under a new dispensation which is divorced from the India Cements and Jaipur IPL companies.

9. Is the IPL likely to float 2 new franchises/teams to play in IPL 9 next year?

Yes it is highly likely that the IPL/BCCI may float tenders to get in two new teams. Since all teams were in operation for ten years, come 2017, all teams would have to, necessarily, re-bid for their franchises.

(Photo: PTI)

10. If IPL 9 has just 6 teams, does this mean that some players will not get to play? Is that fair?

The BCCI is in a huddle to figure out the next steps for the IPL after the panel’s verdict. Whether we will have just six teams or eight, will be known shortly. The BCCI will have to come up with a solution whereby the players who are stranded get to go to other teams if there are just six teams. It will not be the case that the players don’t get to play. They will all get to play but maybe not for their respective sides.

11. What happens to Sundar Raman?

The Supreme Court panel headed by Justice Lodha has said that it needs some more time to investigate Sundar Raman. Vivek Priyadarshi, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) SP, is investigating the matter and will submit the report shortly to the Lodha Committee.

12. What does this verdict mean for BCCI?

The verdict means that BCCI reforms are next in line because the panel’s remit is also to suggest and recommend the same. The BCCI reforms are expected to be far-reaching, considering the strong verdict given by the panel in the two-year saga that had, thus far, played out only in court rooms.