No discussions on mini-IPL yet says Rajiv Shukla

No discussions on mini-IPL yet says Rajiv Shukla: The IPL Governing Council (GC) did not formally discuss the alternative to Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20). The tournament is likely to be eliminated next month and the BCCI is contemplating an eight-team mini-IPL to fill the gap.

IPL Chairman Rajiv Shula said in New Delhi as reported by ESPNricinfo: “There was no discussion on CLT20 scrapping. That decision can only be taken at CLT20 governing council which also includes Cricket Australia and Cricket South Africa,”

But according to an IPL GC member they were informally told that the BCCI was considering an eight-team IPL that will be chomped into two weeks. The proposal will be formally tabled before the governing council only after the working committee meeting later this month or early in August, to decide on the Champions League T20’s future.

While it is too early to discuss the likely venues for the eight-team league-cum-knockout tournament, the members were hinted that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) could be an option. UAE had been nominated as a permanent venue for CLT20 after it had successfully hosted the first phase of matches in IPL 2014.

Shukla also added that the issue of Chennai Super Kings’ low valuation was not discussed since the working committee in April had decided to seek legal advice on the issue. The BCCI has asked an independent valuer to suggest Super Kings’ market value. That report would be discussed in the next working committee meeting.

The governing council also decided not to change the present retention formula for IPL 2016. But ahead of the 2017 edition, maximum number of players allowed to be retained could be brought down to four from the existing five.