BCCI, Sahara kiss and make up

Source SIFY

Last Updated: Thu, Feb 16, 2012 19:39 hrs

Sahara India's sponsorship of the Indian cricket team will also continue. 

The patch-up was enabled by a series of concessions made by the BCCI. The IPL trading window has been extended to February 29 in order to give Sahara the opportunity to acquire players from other franchises. The purse that Pune had for the auction has been reinstated to facilitate purchases. 

One of Pune's key demands was to be allowed five overseas players in the starting XI. They cited the precedent of Mumbai Indians being given the same privilege in last year's Champions League. This demand has been forwarded to other franchises and will be accepted if there is no objection from any of them. 

Pune's demand for a concession in the franchise fee will go into arbitration. 

Sahara and the BCCI were involved in a 12-day standoff ever since the former dropped a bombshell just before the IPL auction on February 4 by announcing the end of its IPL franchise and its sponsorship of Team India.

Negotiations between the two parties began last Sunday but reached an impasse after the BCCI refused to make the concessions that Sahara was seeking. 

However, the BCCI subsequently softened its stand leading to the eventual rapprochement.