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We have to protect interest of players and BCCI: Shukla

July 15, 2015 22:14 IST

Rajeev Shukla talks to Wasim Akram during an IPL game. Photograph: BCCI

The popular but troubled Indian Premier League (IPL) will take place next year notwithstanding the suspension of Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals but the Champions League was scrapped for lack of fan interest.

"You should rest assured that IPL 9 will take place and there would not be any problem as far as BCCI is concerned," IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla told reporters after a meeting with BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya.

Shukla did not elaborate on the format of the tournament after the suspension of the two teams which will take the number of teams in the League to six.

He said BCCI is likely to form a panel which would deliberate upon the way forward.

"After the verdict of the Justice Lodha Commission we are in the process of consultation. I had a meeting with president Jagmohan Dalmiya and I'm in talks with the secretary Mr Thakur also. We will analyse and study the entire report at the Governing Council on July 19 and there it may be decided to form a group to study the report and how it can be implemented.

"We will discuss all the options in the GC so please wait. Let's first study and analyse the report. The president has made it very clear that we respect the judicial verdict so the process of implementation is on," Shukla said.

The Sydney Sixers celebrate with the trophy after winning the Karbonn Smart CLT20 final. Photograph: Duif du Toit/Gallo Images/Getty Images

Meanwhile, the Governing Council of the Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20) decided to discontinue the tournament with immediate effect.

"The Governing Council of the CLT20, comprising representatives of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Cricket South Africa (CSA) and Cricket Australia (CA) made the decision unanimously," a media release said.

"As such the 2015 CLT20 scheduled for September and October will not go ahead as planned," said the release.

While the scrapping of the CLT20 was always on cards due to the poor response it generated, the Lodha Committee report was like a last straw for the CLT20 Governing Council after Chennai Super Kings, who are defending champions as well as one of the competitors after finishing runners-up were suspended for two years.

BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya. Photograph: Jayanta Shaw/Reuters

The Supreme Court appointed Justice Lodha Committee banned Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals for two years and suspended two of their owners for life from any cricketing activities for bringing the game to disrepute on account of their betting activities during the 2013 season.

Shukla said Dalmiya is if the view that BCCI has to protect the interest of the IPL, the interest of the players, the BCCI and the state associations.

"A decision will be taken after the GC (meeting) and then we will have a working committee," Shukla.

He said the affected teams can appeal against the verdict but it will be entirely their decision and the Board will not interfere with that," he said.

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