IPL matches in Jaipur contingent on RCA holding elections, says BCCI

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has issued an ultimatum to the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA), stating that IPL matches can be held in Jaipur only if the RCA sets its house in order. Specifically, the BCCI has made it clear that the association must hold elections to be eligible to host IPL matches.

"We had written to the state body last time around that until and unless they conduct the RCA elections and get an elected body in place, it would be difficult for us to take the IPL to the venue," IPL chairman Arun Singh Dhumal said while speaking to select media on the sidelines of the auction in Abu Dhabi recently.

"As of now, they have not conducted the elections, and the facility, as such, has to be looked at by the franchisee to see if they find it fit enough to host their games.

"Once we do that due diligence and if the RCA is able to conduct their elections smoothly and fairly, we will consider that as a winner."

The RCA has been administered by an ad hoc committee appointed by the state government, and the committee, headed by Deen Dayal Kumawat, has been running the association for the last two years. Jaipur has been the home centre of the Rajasthan Royals for the last 18 years, and it was reported by Cricbuzz on November 23 that the RR management has explored the option of holding its matches in Pune and, in this connection, carried out a recce in the city.

The RCA said it has had no communication from the BCCI but had been in touch with the RR management. "From our side, we are prepared to host IPL matches at the SMS Stadium (in Jaipur). We have held discussions with the RR management. If the BCCI has any issues with the RCA, we will take them up with the state government and address them as well," Kumawat told Cricbuzz on Thursday.

Asked to elaborate on the BCCI position, Dhumal further said, "We had already communicated to them last year that in case they are not able to organise these elections, it would be difficult for us to conduct the tournament there. As of now, that has not happened. So, until and unless they conduct those elections and a newly elected body comes in, and the facility is good enough to take care of IPL games, we will watch the situation and take the right action in due course."

Dhumal, meanwhile, said the BCCI is confident of hosting IPL games in Bengaluru, another IPL centre that had been under a cloud since the June 4 stampede outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium. "I have had a word with the officials from the KSCA. They are in touch with the state government. They have had a fruitful meeting, and we are very positive that we will get Bengaluru as the venue."