Players of suspended teams must play IPL: Prasanna

Kolkata, July 15 - Legendary spinner Erapalli Prasanna on Wednesday said the Indian Premier League (IPL) governing council needs to reorganise the tournament by addressing the twin concerns about finding slots for the players of the two banned franchises and ensuring the high profile tournament has at least eight teams.

Two IPL franchises, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals, were on Tuesday suspended from the tournament for two years by the Supreme Court-appointed Justice Lodha Committee in a 2013 spot fixing and betting scandal.

Former CSK team official Gurunath Meiyappan and Royals co-owner Raj Kundra, both of whom were earlier found guilty of betting, were also suspended for life from any cricketing activity undertaken by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

After Tuesday's verdict, Prasanna said the future of the prestigious league is now in the hands of the governing council which has its task cut out.

"The fate of the league depends upon how governing council take it forward. They have to work out a way to reorganise the whole tournament but in such a way so that the league does not lose its glamour," Prasanna told IANS.

"My main concern is about the players of the two suspended franchises. The council has to take a decision so that these players have clubs. It remains to be seen whether they arrange for another auction for these players or find them new teams," he said.

The offspinner, who once used to cast a web on the batsmen with his flight and flippers, said the ball is in the governing council's court, and they need to ensure the league has eight to nine teams to remain attractive.

"For the league to remain attractive they need eight to nine teams. They have to decide whether they find new teams through auction or take some other step so that the league remains as competitive as it is now," he added.  The governing council is set to meet on July 19 in Mumbai.

Asked to give his reaction to the aftermath of the suspensions, a governing council member said: "No reactions as of now, we will decide the course of the league and what steps should be taken during Sunday's meeting."

(IANS)