Premier Badminton League needs an off-court ‘Trump Card’ after HC blow

The organisers of PBL, the Badminton Association of India (BAI), have approached the Supreme Court on Tuesday seeking immediate stay on the HC order and to allow them to hold the six-team tournament, the Times of India (ToI) reported.

According to the report, Senior counsel Dushyant Dave, who appeared for the BAI, pleaded to the Supreme Court bench to stay the HC order. He said that HC had no jurisdiction to entertain the petition and the court erred in staying the tournament. The bench, after a brief hearing, posted the case for Wednesday, ToI reported.

The Meghalaya HC passed the order on a petition filed by Sobhagaya Media Private Limited challenging the validity of the franchise meet held in New Delhi on December 6. The company claims to be a franchise of the league and is seeking a decision in favour of them to participate in the league.

The organisers also announced the format and rules of the tournament on Tuesday.

Each tie will feature five matches, and every team will have the option of selecting one of these matches as their 'Trump Match'- in which, a victory would give the team a bonus point and a loss a negative point.

Additionally, each game will be for 15 points instead of 21, and there will be a sudden death if the points are tied at 14-14. Each tie will comprise of five matches - Men's Singles, Men's Doubles, Women's Singles, Mixed Doubles and Men's Singles.