Fresh bids for two new IPL teams; CSK, RR back in 2018

10/18/2015

The BCCI said it will invite fresh bids for two new teams to participate for 2016 and 2017 so as to complete the eight-team format in the absence of CSK and RR. The BCCI did not clarify if the cash-rich league would be a 10-team competition from 2018 following the return of CSK and RR.

“The decision whether it will be a 10-team affair from 2018 will only be taken at the annual general meeting (AGM) where other major decisions including the bilateral series with Pakistan will be discussed,” a senior BCCI official told PTI news agency.

It was also decided by the working committee that the AGM will be held on November 9. This was the first meeting chaired by new president Shashank Manohar.

Vivo is new IPL sponsor

Chinese phone manufacturer Vivo has replaced PepsiCo as the title sponsor of the IPL. This was necessitated by the beverage giant's sudden pullout from a five-year deal that was to end in 2017.

“The IPL title sponsorship right has been assigned to M/s Vivo mobiles. Vivo is to give the bank guarantee in the next 10 days," a BCCI statement said. Meanwhile, Nike’s contract as the official apparel sponsors of the National team was extended.

PCB to meet Manohar

Media reports from Pakistan said the Pakistan Cricket Board’s chairman Shaharyar Khan and head of PCB's executive committee Najam Sethi are travelling to India on Sunday to convince the BCCI to confirm the bilateral series scheduled in December.

Khan and Sethi are expected to meet with the BCCI president Manohar and secretary Anurag Thakur, along with other government officials in New Delhi, PTI reported.

“The trip is being made on the invitation of Shashank Manohar who took over as the new Indian cricket chief," a PCB official told PTI.

Reportedly, Khan had spoken about the scheduled series with Thakur on the sidelines of the ICC meeting in Dubai.