'Money is not going to Sourav Ganguly or Jay Shah' - BCCI treasurer slams people for calling IPL a 'money-making' machine

Since its inception, the Indian Premier League has evolved as one of the top T20 leagues. The extravaganza of the tournament has grown leaps and bounds in the past decade. The much-awaited IPL 2020 was also scheduled to start from March 29 this year but the tournament was postponed indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Considering the current situation across the globe, the feasibility of the cash-rich league still looks bleak. Several reports have suggested that the BCCI is trying its best to host the tournament in the latter part of the year to avoid an anticipated loss of INR 4000 crores.

IPL has often been termed as a ‘money-making machine’ for the hefty amount of money involved in the tournament. The tournament has changed the face of T20 cricket but it’s looked as a mere business by many individuals. Many have suspected personal financial gains being the motive of the BCCI to host the tournament this year.

Money goes to the players, not office-bearers: Arun Dhumal

BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal has slammed those who have been questioning the board’s motives and has urged everyone to avoid calling it a ‘money-making’ event. Dhumal said that IPL has provided financial stability to board and the players while also benefiting thousands of people outside the field by providing them jobs. Moreover, IPL has also boosted the travel and tourism industry, according to the BCCI treasurer.

“This whole talk that IPL is a money-making machine, so be it. Who takes that money? That money goes to the players, that money doesn’t go to any office bearers. That money goes to the welfare of the nation, the travel and tourism industry, in terms of industries being revived, in terms of taxes being paid,” Dhumal told Cricbuzz.

“So why opposition for the money? Money is paid to the players and all those people who are there to organise the tournament. Media has to change the stance and tell about the benefit of this tournament that is happening.

If BCCI is paying thousands of crores in taxes, it is going in nation-building, it is not going to Mr Sourav Ganguly or Mr Jay Shah or myself. Right? So you should be happy if money is being made rather than money being spent on sports,” he added.