Amin effect: No IPL nights, cheerleaders' fate uncertain

Published>Wed, Apr 28 10 11:28 AM

The interim chief of the Indian Premier League (IPL) today promised a "bigger, better and transparent" tournament next year, but without the glitzy - and controversial - post-match parties introduced by suspended commissioner Lalit Modi. The fate of the cheerleaders, an integral part of IPL's glamour but sometimes criticised for being against "Indian culture" was, however, still undecided.

"I am not sure about the cheerleaders but one thing I can surely say is that from next season there won't be any IPL nights," Chirayu Amin told a news conference here today.

The "clean up" of the IPL had started, and the "small storm" would pass, Amin said. The present crisis would not be able to dent the brand image of one of the most expensive sporting affairs in the world, he said.

"We have started the investigation in right earnest. We will make IPL bigger than what it is. Cricket is a religion in the country and it would continue to be so. My job as the chairman IPL is to manage the affairs and bring it up to the Governing Council, deliberate with them, and to take decision with consensus", Amin said.

"The job has just started and I am getting involved in it. We have a great team in the management and we are confident that the cricket-loving people of India and the world will not be disappointed. The show will go on. The game of cricket is important and that's a fact no one can deny. Our job is to nurse it and bring it to people. Our job is to manage the IPL in a transparent manner and make sure that we have clarity, transparency, and take care of the people at large, take care of the players and franchisees as well."

The "IPL management" is "under the scanner", Amin said, but "cricketing aspects are not under any questions".

The new chairman said he was "not ready to accept this job but it was thrust on" him. "Ultimately I was prevailed upon and I took it up."

On his style of working, Amin said, "You can manage business in different styles, every one has their own style, flamboyance has nothing to do with cricket. Cricket is leisure if you present it in right spirit."

'Flamboyance' is a word that has been repeatedly used in the context of Modi's style of running the IPL, and was considered his trademark manner.

Source: Web Search