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[Blwe_torch]

BCCI should have shown 'little more fairness': Shilpa
PTI, Oct 21, 2010, 10.20pm IST

MUMBAI: Bollywood actress and Rajasthan Royals co-owner Shilpa Shetty on Thursday said the BCCI should have treated them with "little more fairness" before taking the decision to terminate the franchise and made it clear that they are ready to face any enquiry in this regard.

A distressed Shilpa, who ownes Indian Premier League's first edition's champion Rajasthan team along with husband Raj Kundra, questioned the BCCI's move and said they would be more than happy to know if there was any mistake on their part.

"We don't want to hurl stones and have not done something wrong. Even if we have done something wrong, I think, as a franchise... the passion we have done it with, we need to be treated with a little more fairness," Shilpa said.

"In any business if you have defaulted, you have to pay for that and compensate. Just throwing us is not a solution. If we have irked (anyone), we are willing to face the consequences. But you can't just cancel us out," Shilpa told Times Now.

Royals, along with Kings XI Punjab, was expelled from the IPL last Sunday for alleged violations of rules, with seven years of their 10-year contract still to go.

Shilpa also demanded a fair probe into the whole incident and said they would extend every help in this regard.

"There has to be a transparent enquiry. We will be more than happy to do all it takes to help the ED (Enforcement Directorate) to come up with a solution. So we are not running away from that. We have invested so much time, money and passion to bring the brand upto a certain level.

"We have a lot of respect for BCCI, they are a charitable institution, the members are doing their best for cricket. But we also don't want our brand to be affected," she said.

Asked about the alleged irregularities in their ownership pattern, Shilpa said that the BCCI was fully aware about her husband Raj Kundra's introduction into the franchise.

"When you buy into a team, five per cent of the money goes to the BCCI and they have accepted Raj's money. And if there was a problem with the owner, why would they accept the money?" she asked.

"Why this question is coming up after two years?" The actor said that they had already discussed the matter with the Board but chose not to reveal any detail.

"We had our dialogue directly with the BCCI and we like it to be private. We are shocked and taken aback with the whole fiasco that has happened with us," said Shilpa, who tweeted earlier on Thursday to express her feelings.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/iplarticleshow/6789177.cms

[flute]

people don't have back bone any more. If there is injustice done to you, shout it out from the roof tops and fight it out..if not shut up..what is this sucking up to BCCI even when they think it is not fair?

[dextrous]

people don't have back bone any more. If there is injustice done to you, shout it out from the roof tops and fight it out..if not shut up..what is this sucking up to BCCI even when they think it is not fair?

She's probably hoping to (a) get another franchise or (b) a lot of money

[RicePlateReddy]

Another actress obsessed with fairness ...

[vijay]

Eliminating Preity and Shilpa, that is just wrong...

[dextrous]

Eliminating Preity and Shilpa, that is just wrong...

I will miss Preity.

[dhruvdeepak]

i will miss IPL

[adhunikbarbarian]

this reminds me of hasina ka pasina

[teamindia]

Australia's T20 tournament could turn into a next IPL. It could be Lalit Modi's plan behind this. More clear picture would emerge when the idea is approved by CA and the Indian investors are disclosed..


http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-sport/private-stakes-in-t20-teams-decision-looms-20101028-175hc.html

Private stakes in T20 teams decision looms
Steve Larkin
October 28, 2010 - 5:49PM
AAP

The Australian Cricketers' Association supports private ownership of Twenty20 teams as cashed-up Indian consortia hover to buy stakes in the domestic franchises.

The Australian players' collective has no objection to the principle of private ownership, association chief executive Paul Marsh said on Thursday.

Cricket Australia's board will meet on Friday to decide whether to allow private ownership of T20 franchises in a new competition next summer.

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Eight Australian outfits will contest the series, with six teams in capital cities and a further two licences to be granted.

Indian entrepreneurs want to buy minority stakes in the franchises, which some reports suggest could be valued at $80 million.

Marsh said the players' association believed private ownership should be embraced.

"But we're not privy to the financial details," he said.

"I don't know whether the offers on the table stack up, that is something that Cricket Australia, I'm assuming, is analysing and is putting a recommendation to the board.

"But if it does stack up, from our perspective, we think cricket should go for it."

Marsh said the debate boiled down to a cost-benefit analysis.

"The value and benefits that private ownership would bring to Australian cricket, do they outweigh the financial opportunity cost that cricket may be giving up by bringing in part owners, and the control that cricket may be giving up by bringing in part owners?," he said.

Marsh said the association had already started negotiating with Cricket Australia about terms and conditions for the revamped T20 competition.

"In terms of the ownership, that is a Cricket Australia and state association thing," he said.

"We have no issue with it - our players play in the IPL (Indian Premier League) where the teams are privately owned.

"It's a different sort of landscape than what we have been used to, but it doesn't necessarily mean it's all bad."

The T20 competition will also lure overseas stars to play for the Australian franchises in a tournament set to replace one-day matches on the January and February cricket calendar.

Meanwhile, the CA board meeting on Friday will also decide which national selector will lose his job.

The Australian selection panel will be reduced from five members to four.

Chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch and newly appointed full-time selector Greg Chappell will remain on the panel, meaning either David Boon, Merv Hughes or Jamie Cox will be axed.