IPL verdict as it happened: From suspension of CSK and RR to Srinivasan distancing himself

IPL Betting: Full text of Lodha panel’s verdict on Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals – Firstposthttp://www.firstpost.com

We finally have the full statement of Justice Lodha Committee’s verdict. Take a read. Some of the details are fascinating.

Aryama Sundaram, Senior Lawyer (Counsel to BCCI): No stigma attached to players. They are free to join any other team. (Earlier to India Today)

Gopal Jain, Senior Lawyer (SC) to India Today: Nobody can stop the two teams from appealing, but they will have a very weak case. The independent committee gave its verdict based on BCCI constitutional violations.

Shailendra Singh, MD of Percept, to India Today: The IPL brand is completely hit today. The biggest problem is the lack of accountability in BCCI, this whole scam is anti-national.

IPL COO Sundar Raman: I will wait till the final report from Lodha panel before making any comments

Meanwhile, in actual cricket that was played today, India have thumped Zimbabwe to complete a 3-0 whitewash…

Do read the twitter reaction copy to the Lodha committee verdict. Some gems in there..

Eventually only Delhi will be left in IPL and it’ll still come fifth: Top Twitter reactions on IPL Verdict – Firstposthttp://www.firstpost.com

We can come back after two years, we have not been terminated: senior CSK official – Firstposthttp://www.firstpost.com

Now, a classic case of “I TOLD YA SO!” from Lalit Modi. 

An explainer of sorts from Mr. Lalit Kumar Modi…

CSK seem to be holding out hope for returning to status quo after serving suspension. Not sure if that’s a possibility…

“I have not seen the Supreme Court order. When we see the order, we have to check with our legal council what course of action we should take. We may not take any legal recourse also. Super Kings are only suspended. We can come back after two years. We have not been terminated,” a senior official in know of things told PTI.

Lodha verdict: Common sense and logic triumph over BCCI’s IPL-fuelled greed – Firstposthttp://www.firstpost.com

Suspended Raj Kundra ‘shocked’ by the verdict…

Tough to imagine an IPL without Dhoni, Gavaskar says after CSK suspension – Firstposthttp://www.firstpost.com

Just in (via PTI): A meeting of the IPL Governing Council has been convened in Mumbai on July 19

BCCI STATEMENT IN FULL: (www.bcci.tv)

Following pronouncement of the order of the Honourable Lodha Committee, Mr. Jagmohan Dalmiya, the President of the BCCIsaid: “BCCI is committed to honour and respect judicial decisions and it would give its observations after the entire report is read and a collective decision is taken.” He, however, asserted that BCCI is committed to ensuring transparency, accountability and cleansing the sport in order to restore the faith and confidence of millions of cricket loving people in the glorious game of cricket in general and IPL in particular.

Mr. Anurag Thakur, Honorary Secretary of the BCCI, said: “We respect the verdict and would undertake a collective decision in a transparent manner, in the right direction and in the larger interest of the game after the verdict is received and analysed.”

BCCI will not make further comments on this issue.

JUST IN: BCCI have sent in their first reaction to the verdict from Lodha committee. Anurag Thakur, Secretary, said that he ‘respects’ the verdict.

Auction, new franchisees or new buyers? BCCI to decide on options after IPL betting verdict – Firstposthttp://www.firstpost.com

Lalit Modi also dismisses Srini’s claims outright. (That screenshot should looks vaguely familiar….. )

Here’s more from him in detail….

So as we’d expected, Lalit Modi has quite a bit to say on the events of the day so far. He’s been tweeting about it. For starters, he has said “Finally, honesty and justice. But when will it come from within?” referring to the fact that a big decision has come from a committee appointed from outside the BCCI.

This just in from PTI: “I want BCCI to form a special committee and throw N Srinivasan (former BCCI president) out of the Indian Cricket Board forever,” said Aditya Verma,  the petitioner in the IPL spot-fixing scandal.

Verma also urged the BCCI to cancel Tamil Nadu strongman Srinivasan’s representation in the International Cricket Council (ICC).

“I also request the BCCI to cancel his (Srinivasan’s) BCCI representation in ICC after this verdict. If BCCI does not adhere to my demands then I will take BCCI to court regarding this matter,”

(via PTI)

Here’s the breakdown of Justice Lodha’s IPL verdict – Firstposthttp://www.firstpost.com

BCCI have indeed had a meeting about the IPL verdict today to discuss fresh auctions, new team bidding, de-merger

A senior BCCI functionary and IPL Governing Council member: “We were having some informal discussions once the verdict was announced. An emergent meeting is on the cards where the members will be apprised of the situation and the road ahead will be only chalked out after our legal team goes through entire contents of the copy of the verdict,” 

(via PTI)

Sources tell India-Today that estranged franchises – Pune, Kochi – could be brought back in to the IPL or look into possibly adding two new teams.

Meanwhile, in Harare India just finished their innings with 276-5 after a brilliant partnership between Kedhar Jadhav (who scored his maiden hundred) and Manish Pandey.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals Twitter account had their #RoyaQuizDay today on Sanju Samson. As far as timing goes…

N. Srinivasan, ICC Chairman to CNN-IBN: “Don’t want to speak on this issue, I am not associated with CSK. It has nothing to do with me, why should I step down?”

To which Lalit Modi has responded thus…

Rajdeep Sardesai had this to say earlier today….

There is Lalit Modi’s first reaction. Safe to say, we’ll hear from him a lot more in the coming hours..

Kirti Azad to India Today: It’s a good verdict but difficult to say if it’ll clean up BCCI. There are big players involved, they must get arrested. BCCI is an alliance united in corruption.

N. Srinivasan speak to Times Now, says CSK will look to appeal verdict. Does not comment on stepping down as ICC Chairman.

India Today reporting that BCCI and CSK lawyers are considering their next steps of action and are studying the report of Lodha committee.

Just to reiterate, the Justice Lodha committee is only partially done with their reponsiblities in investigating the IPL scandal. Which is to determine the quantum of punishment for Meiyappan, Kundra, CSK and RR.

The committee still has to further investigate on the role of IPL COO Sundar Raman and come up with recommendations for strealining the processes of the BCCI. If today’s verdict is anything to go by, Sundar Raman could be in for some heavy sanctions as well.

As we still await BCCI’s official comment on the verdict, Bishen paaji thinks tough times are ahead for the board..

BCCI sources tell CNN-IBN that there could be two new IPL franchises, it’s being considered. Sources also say that two new franchises could fetch BCCI as much as $100 million.

Earlier, Justice Mudgal told Times Now that, the way he sees it ‘suspension of owners means suspension of teams’ citing the example of Italian footballing giants Juventus getting relegated as a consequence of the Calciopoli scandal.

Sanjay Manjrekar echoes what Justice Lodha mentioned while reading out the verdict..

Another ex-BCCI chief, AC Muthiah hails this a good verdict.

While Kochi Tuskers could actually come back, this is in fact quite a coincidence….

Justice Mugdal to Times Now: Bottom line of the verdict that everyone involved will be scared of wrong-doings. This verdict should be the norm not the exception. Lodha committee’s second phase will handle streamlining of BCCI process. The current feeling that all IPL matches are fixed is completely wrong and hope from now on that is not the case.

Justice Mugdal to Times Now: Strong verdict, its exemplary and goes a long way to cleaning up cricket. Of course the the owners can challenge it, but BCCI should accept the report and act on it.

Former BCCI President Inderjit Bindra has this follow-up comment

More reactions to Lodha committee’s verdict.

Just to be clear, Chennai Super Kings, the team, can continue in the IPL if India Cements sell the team. The same applies to Rajasthan Royals. It is the offficials who are out, not the players and the team.

Times Now is citing “CSK sources”, who claim the judgement is open to judicial remedy. Justice Lodha also said that whatever remedy is available to the general public is available to Meiyappan, Kundra and the franchises. So this isn’t over by a long shot.

N Srinivasan must be reeling. First he lost the BCCI presidency. Now his IPL team has been banned for two years. His universe has been upended by this case.

Of course, Srinivasan is still running the ICC. That hasn’t changed.

Both MS Dhoni and Ajinkya Rahane are suddenly, and devastatingly, without an IPL franchise. As our R Ashwin, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Sanju Samson, Mohit Sharma.

This decision raises significant questions about how the IPL will be held in 2016 and 2017 with only six teams. The BCCI bigwigs must be stunned. Nothing like this has ever happened to them before. I’m not even sure they will know how to react to the situation.

This could be a huge turning point for cricket in India. This is a huge message to everyone, including the likes of N Srinivasan and other BCCI big wigs, that it can no longer be business as usual.

“It is an institutional view we have taken. Not one just looking at these four, says Justice Lodha.

Justice Lodha: “We feel that our decision must reflect a kind of instutitionally firm view of upholding the paramountancy of the game.”

Justice Lodha: We thought that if cricket is bigger than individuals, or groups of individuals, than financial loss to players and franchises is not of significance to consider the financial situation of players who belong to these franchises.

This is a huge statement to other team owners that they are liable for the misconduct of individual officials and owners. Nobody is safe.

Justice Lodha says they have to meet more people before deciding about BCCI reform. They have already met 40 or 45 people.

Justice Lodha: Your questions must relate to three aspects – the decisions we have given, the role of Sundar Raman and the reform of the BCCI.

Shares of India Cements plunged 6 percent after the Supreme Court panel probing IPL spot fixing suspend the company was suspended from the league for two years.

The committee was just asked about Sundar Raman. They said they need more time to complete their investigation since the officer entrusted to investigate retired and they had to appoint a new officer, who is still examining the matter. “We are still waiting for his report,” Justice Lodha says.

The first question that comes to mind is what happens to the players of these two teams? We don’t have answers at the moment.

This is a shocking and hugely unexpected verdict. ALmost nobody thought the teams would be suspended. I didn’t think this would happen.

The times they truly are a changing.

Jaipur is also suspended from the IPL for two years. The punishment commences from the date of the order i.e. today.

Justice Lodha: BCCI has to give due importance to the implementation of discipline to maintain the reputation of the game.

Justice Lodha brings up the three RR players charged with fixing in 2013. The committee has also taken note of the reported corrupt player approach before the start of the 2015 IPL. Says this shows all is not right with the franchise.

Justice Lodha: Wrongdoing by Jaipur has already been determined by the Supreme Court.

The committee is expressing similar sentiments about Rajasthan Royals. Says the franchisee is directly responsible for the acts of its officials

India Cements shares are currently down three perecent.

India Cements is SUSPENDED from the league for TWO YEARS! That is a huge development.

Justice Lodha: Disrepute has been brought to the BCCI, IPL and the  game of cricekt that doubts are there in the public about whether the games are clean or not.

Justice Lodha: India Cements had an obligation to address the actions of an errring official but no action was taken by India Cements against Meiyappan.

Justice Lodha: The franchisees have an obligation to safeguard the reputation of the game and to operate within the laws of the game.

Justice Lodha: Gurunath Meiyappan was consdiered to be the face of the franchise by his actions. Such actions would have to be considered as acts of the owners for the purpose of the rules.

The committee rejects the argument that there is no wrong doing by India Cements in the matter. For the misconduct of betting by Gurunath Meiyappan, action can be taken against the franchisee.

Raj Kundra has brought the game into disrepute, says the committee. It imposes the following sanctions:

1. he is inlegible for the participation in the sport of cricket for the maximum period of five years

2. He is suspended for life from cricket activities

3. He is suspended for life from being involved with the BCCI in any type of cricket matches.

All sanctions shall run concurrantly and commence from the date of the order.

Raj Kundra has also been found guilt of violting the BCCI’s rules and regulations.

Rajasthan Royals have damaged the faith of the public in the game of cricket, says Justice Lodha.

Now we turn our attention to Raj Kundra. The Justice does not buy Kundra’s argument that he did not know betting was illegal in India.

Gurunath Meiyappan’s behavour has brought the BCCI, the IPL and the game of cricket into disrepute. He has been found guilty of betting. His conduct having affected the image of the BCCI, the IPL: and the game of the cricket.

The Committee has decided the following punishment for Gurunath:

1. Gurunath is declared eligible for participation in the sport of cricket for a maximum period of five years.

2. He is suspended for life from any cricket matches

Justice Lodha: There is nothing to indicate that his [Meiyappan’s] participation in the probe is voluntary. He is guilty of not reporting his contact with a bookie.

Justice Lodha has rejected the argument made by India Cements. “He was team official of CSK and shoudl not have indulged in corrupt practices”. He acted opposite to fundamental sporting characteristics and violated Articles 2.2.1 and 2.2.2 of the IPL constitution.

This habit of regugarly placing bets on IPL matches renders his argument that this is only his first offence does not hold water. It is his bad luck that he did not made money out these bets.

If his reputation is tarnished, it is small compared to the damage done to the sport, says Justice Lodha.

Justice Lodha reading out the instructions that the Supreme Court gave to the committee in January.

The Justices are currently the calm in the middle of the TV channel storm as everyone tries to set up their cameras and get a good vantage point.

The Justices are taking their seats at the table. The press conference is about to begin.

Change does not come easily to the BCCI. It could be argued that change doesn’t come to the BCCI at all. But could that be about to change (pun intended)?

We are about 10 minutes away from the start of the press conference.

Meanwhile Sreesanth just tweeted that out.

One thing to remember amid all the hype is that the BCCI is the sacred cow of all political parties in India. Amit Shah is the president of the Gujarat Cricket Association and Arun Jaitley is always ready to throw a force field around the board to repel invaders. Then there are the powerful franchise owners in the IPL who stand to lose a bundle if CSK and RR are suspended or terminated.

In other words, the nuclear option would be a huge surprise.

According to India Today, Justioe Lodha has said is satisfied with the work the committee has done.

Justice Raveendran has arrived. All three Justices are now in the house.

Justice Lodha is also in the building now. I imagine plenty of IPL fans are on tenterhooks around the country (and possibly the world).

Times Now has grabbed Justice Ashok Bhan before he walks into the building. No surprise that he chooses not answer any of their questions.

I don’t know whether the judges would have considered this but one potential punishment is to either reduce the team’s budget for the player auction or ban them from the auction for two years. That would affect the franchise without affecting the economic security of its players.

We are an hour away from the press conference now. The buzz is that the teams are not going to be terminated, which makes practical sense. There is too much money and too much power behind the IPL.

According to Times Now, the committee might also have a few things to say about the management of both franchises – India Cements and Jaipur Cricket Pvt Ltd.

Lodha, Bhan, Raveendran: Know the trio of legal eagles who will clean up BCCIhttp://www.firstpost.com

In case you are wondering who the men who make up the Lodha Committee are, here’s a quick sketch of the three former Supreme Court Judges.

For those who aren’t aware, the Lodha Committee press briefing will begin at 1 p.m today at the India Habitat Centre in Delhi.

Banning or suspending the teams also raises the question of what to do about the players? They would lose their income for no fault of their own. It would be a very messy solution and another reason why it is unlikely the teams will be thrown under the bus.

IPL betting: Lodha committee to decide the fates of CSK and RR today – Firstposthttp://www.firstpost.com

Here’s a preview of what we can expect from today’s announcement.

There is plenty at stake ahead of the Lodha Committee’s public announcement of their findings. If the committee decides it wants to send a strong message, they could decide to suspend or ban Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals. That would strike a severe blow to the very foundation of the IPL.