BCCI at liberty to issue tender for tenth IPL team: Srinivasan

MUMBAI: The BCCI on Wednesday said it was at liberty to invite bids for the tenth team in the Indian Premier League (IPL) to fill in the slot left vacant by the termination of Kochi Tuskers Kerala.

BCCI president N Srinivasan said, "I cannot comment on the matter as it is currently sub judice. I?m informed the court may issue an order either today or in the near future. But as far as the board is concerned, it is at liberty to advertise for another franchise. But that?s a decision to be taken. If we have to go with nine teams, so be it."

The comments came a day after the Bombay High Court virtually left the door open for Deccan Chargers to participate in IPL season 6 by giving it 10 days to furnish an un-conditional bank guarantee of Rs 1 billion within 10 days.

Deccan Chargers had approached HC to appeal against the BCCI?s decision to terminate the franchise for breach of contract. The court on Wednesday asked Deccan Chargers to provide an unconditional bank guarantee of Rs 1 billion to BCCI within 10 days and appointed retired Supreme Court judge C K Thakkar as the arbitrator to adjudicate on the dispute between BCCI and the IPL team owners.

The BCCI counsel Rafiq Dada had also requested the HC to clarify on the issue of status quo order it had passed so that the cricket board could go ahead and issue the tender for the tenth franchise.