The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are considering several options regarding the two suspended franchises Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR). The most viable amongst them are putting these two teams up for sale for the next two editions of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The BCCI had formed a four-member working group to study the 59-page Lodha Committee Report, right after a committee, led by Justice RM Loda, had suspended CSK and RR from the IPL on 14 July.
BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur had stated then that this newly-formed working group will take six weeks to study the Lodha Committee Report, before coming up with suggestions regarding the future of CSK, RR and the IPL.
According to the suggestions of the working group, the IPL Governing Council (GC) will take further decisions once the initial opinions are out.
"We have suggested four logical possibilities, a working group member told the Hindustan Times. The first option will be to auction off both the banned teams for two years. The second option could be to hand over the reins of the teams to credible entities or institutions for the next two years.
"Also, there is an option where the board can organise a T20 league in tier 2 cities and the top two teams from that league can fill up the two slots. However, this will be a time consuming process but even then it can be an option.
"The fourth option could be to pitch in two new teams altogether through auctions and these two teams can continue after CSK and RR rejoin the league once the ban term is over. The IPL anyway has the provision for 10 teams."
The above mentioned four options will be placed in front of the IPL GC on Friday in Kolkata. The final call will be taken by the BCCI, after the bodies meet and discuss these options.
Prior to this, CSK had moved the Madras High Court, challenging the verdict of the Lodha Committee. To this, the working group member said that BCCI is not too bothered about the notice that has been sent to them by the court following CSK's appeal.
