As cricket enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the upcoming Indian Premier League, not everything is smooth sailing for the cricketing establishments in Rajasthan. The Sawai Mansingh Stadium, a renowned arena in the heart of Jaipur, along with the Rajasthan Cricket Association’s (RCA) office and academy have found themselves in a predicament as they’ve been sealed by the Rajasthan Sports Council less than a month before the IPL 2024 is set to commence.
The sealing of these properties is rooted in a dispute over financial liabilities. The Rajasthan Sports Council, which serves as the custodian of sports affairs in the state, claims that the RCA failed to clear outstanding dues and did not honour the conditions laid out in their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Sohan Ram Choudhary, the determined secretary of the Rajasthan Sports Council, did not mince words when detailing the actions taken by the Council. According to Choudhary, despite several notices being served to the RCA, the cricket body did not respond satisfactorily. He pointed out that the only reply received from RCA was a proposal to extend their MoU from eight to ten years, neglecting the issue of settling liabilities.
Choudhary recounted the differences over financial transactions, specifically referencing the funds RCA claimed not to have received. “They received approximately Rs 200 crores but told us that they haven’t received the sum. They had a lot of money during the Rajasthan Premier League but they did not adhere to the MoU and did not deposit the money, that’s why we had to take this step,” he highlighted in a press interaction.
Despite the circumstances leading to the sealing of the cricketing facilities, Choudhary provided assurances that IPL games and other international matches scheduled at the stadium would go ahead as planned. He firmly stated, “This is our premise and we just took it back. The IPL matches will happen, and all other national and international matches will also happen and the players will get all the facilities.”
Amidst this administrative turmoil, the president of the Rajasthan Cricket Association, Vaibhav Gehlot, has painted the actions of the Rajasthan Sports Council in a political hue. Gehlot claimed that the council’s sudden decision to seal the premises, especially with the timing before the IPL, indicated political motivations.
Gehlot highlighted the urgency of the notice given by the Sports Council, which he deemed unfairly short, arguing that politics should not interfere with the sport. With the properties sealed and the issue brought to the public eye, Gehlot suggested that the RCA would be consulting with its legal advisors to determine the appropriate response to the Council’s actions.
The IPL governing body, cognizant of fans’ eager anticipation, released a partial schedule for the 2024 tournament. This schedule revealed that the Sawai Mansingh Stadium is to host Rajasthan Royals’ season opener against Lucknow Super Giants on March 24 and another high-profile game against Delhi Capitals on March 28.
The sealing of the Sawai Mansingh Stadium and the RCA’s office has sent ripples through the Indian cricketing community. As legal teams on both sides prepare for what could be a prolonged dispute, the Rajasthan Sports Council and the RCA are standing their ground. The ongoing face-off poses questions about governance and financial management within India’s cricketing bodies, even as the sport continues to enjoy immense popularity and success with major events like the IPL on the horizon.
How this altercation will resolve remains to be seen, but stakeholders are hopeful that a swift resolution will allow the focus to return to the cricket pitch, where excitement for IPL 2024 continues to build.
