Monday 6th February 2012

'BCCI will reach out to Sahara'
Days after the Sahara group announced its pull-out, BCCI president N Srinivasan has said that they will “reach out to Sahara.”
Srinivasan expressed “surprise” over group’s sudden decision and confirmed that the Board is open to discuss and sort the outstanding issues with Sahara.
“We’ve had an excellent relationship with Sahara for the last 12 years. These differences are only perceptible,” Srinivasan told Times Now.
“We can’t prejudge what issues will be discussed when BCCI-Sahara meet, but we recognise the relationship with them and are sure of sorting out the issue,” Srinivasan added.
Earlier, similar feelers were sent out by IPL Chairman and BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla.
"We are open to discussions, open for dialogue because they have been our partner for 11 years. We don't want anything to be decided in haste," Rajiv Shukla said.
Sahara decided to part ways with the BCCI on Saturday morning, an hour before the IPL 2012 auction - which went ahead without any representation from Pune Warriors.
The group complained that the BCCI did not give due consideration to its genuine grievances with regards to players and number of matches in the IPL.
Sahara's pullout means the fate of Pune Warriors players also remains uncertain and in case they don't get a new franchise, they may not be able to play at all.
But Shukla seemed optimistic about resolving the matter and said Pune Warriors is still associated with IPL.
"So far they (Sahara Pune Warriors) are still an IPL franchise unless we get anything in writing from them. We are extremely positive," the IPL chief maintained.
Sahara had signed a renewed sponsorship agreement with the BCCI on July 1, 2010 till December 31, 2013 and was paying Rs 3.34 crore per Test match, one-day international and Twenty20 International under the new terms. The deal is said to be worth Rs 532 crore.
Sahara entered the IPL bandwagon last year by buying Pune Warriors for Rs 1702 crore, making it the costliest franchise in the Twenty20 event.
The BCCI stands to lose Rs 2234 crore if Sahara sticks to its stand. However, the Board can find another sponsor to neutralise the losses.
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