With several local media organizations questioning the credibility of the owners of and the SLPL franchises over the last week since the launch of the Sri Lanka Premier League on the 16th of July, the relevant authorities from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) were quick to clarify the matter with a Press Release that was sent out today to all media organizations.
In the press release it says that SLC has taken all possible precautions to safeguard the integrity of the Tournament which will be conducted according to the ICC Code of Conduct , in conformity with the ICC Anti Corruption/ Anti Doping guidelines and as well as adhering to the MCC “Spirit of Cricket”.
Talking about the bidding process for the franchises of the SLPL, SLC states that a competitive bidding process was introduced in order to ensure transparency and obtain the highest possible value for each franchise. The process itself was successful in that SLC was able to obtain an average price of approximately USD 4.3 Million for each franchise. SLC further states that in such a process, since the highest bidder must be awarded the franchise it is not possible to screen each party prior to the awarding of the Franchise. In the circumstances, SLC laid down stringent safeguards to ensure that all parties who tendered bids for a Franchise met the strict qualification criteria laid down by SLC. Fundamental to the qualification criteria was the condition that any prospective bidder cannot be engaged in gaming and betting activities and that they are required to have sufficient financial resources to meet their commitment to SLC on the one hand and to the players on the other hand by providing a Bank Guarantee in favour of SLC to secure the Player payments and the franchise consideration.
In this regard the Invitation to Tender contained specific requirements that no person would be eligible to submit a bid if they or any person related or connected to them is a person who is not permitted to hold office or be a member of a committee of any national sporting association under the Sports Law.
The Franchise agreement thereafter entered into by the successful bidders also contained clauses by which each of the successful bidders held out that the Franchisee is an entity which is not involved in any activity which is contrary to the Sports Law or to the ICC Rules which also includes gaming and/or betting activities. By entering into the Franchise Agreement each of the Franchisees has undertaken to adhere to the ICC anti Corruption / Anti Doping Rules as well as the MCC “Spirit of Cricket”. In the event of a Franchisee found to be in breach of the obligation set out above SLC has the right to terminate such Franchise Agreement.
In that light it would be seen that SLC has taken all possible precautions to ensure that the Franchisees are persons who would be mandated to adhere strictly to the guidelines laid down in order to have a successful tournament. In this whole process, what has been fundamental to SLC is to maintain the integrity of the tournament and of the Franchisees themselves says the SLC in their Press Release.
In addition to this, we at CricTurf would like to mention that all news items that are published on our website regarding the SLPL and other matters are all verified and true and that we adhere to professional journalistic conduct at all times. Since our intention at CricTurf is the promotion of sports, we would not publish news items that would tarnish the image of any sport without proper verification.
© CricTurf 2012 | Ahamed Nishadh
