Manohar is mediator in Sahara-BCCI wrangle

In a notable development,Shashank Manohar was also included in the parleys

Senior officials of the BCCI and Sahara Group today started another round of discussions in a desperate bid to break the stalemate over the participation of Pune Warriors in the fifth edition of the Indian Premier League. A day after the BCCIs Working Committee rejected some of the demands of Sahara,both the parties held parleys in a city hotel to try and find a solution to the contentious issues.

In a notable development,former Board President Shashank Manohar was also included in the parleys. Board president N Srinivasan was present at the meeting. Manohar was the president of BCCI when Sahara Group bought the Pune Franchise for whopping Rs 1700 crore,the costliest franchise in the IPL. The former BCCI president is well respected in the Indian cricket fraternity for his expertise in crisis management. Interestingly,it was Manohar who was able to successfully convince the two new franchises (Kochi Tuskers and Pune) before last years auctions when they had reservations about the Player Retention policy. According to reliable sources,Saharas demand for a reduction of franchise fee,bank guarantee and inclusion of an extra foreign player in the team were the main topics of discussions.

Sahara,sponsor of the Indian team for over 11 years,decided to part ways with the BCCI on February 4,complaining that the Board did not give due consideration to its genuine grievances with regards to players and number of matches in the IPL. The decision to severe all ties with BCCI was taken just hours before the IPL auction got underway in Bangalore.

The BCCIs Working Committee had met in Chennai on Monday but had failed to resolve the standoff. The Boards Working Committee rejected some demands of the long-time sponsor and refused to make exceptions for the company which will now have to decide its future in the IPL.

After over three hours of deliberation at its Working Committee meeting,the BCCI said it had communicated its decisions with regards to Saharas demands to the company and was hoping for a favourable response. The BCCI had also made it clear that while it could show some flexibility but it should not be expected to make exceptions for the corporate giant,which owns the costliest IPL team.

Issues that had to be decided were placed before the committee and we have conveyed the response from the working committee to Sahara and we hope the response would be favourable, BCCI President N Srinivasan had told reporters on Monday.