BCCI offers olive branch, says ready to sort out issues

[1]

Stung by Sahara's pullout as sponsor of Indian cricket team and owner of IPL franchise Pune Warriors, the BCCI today took a more reconciliatory stand towards the aggrieved corporate giant, saying it was ready to sit across the table and sort out all the matters.

Two days after Sahara's shock decision to severe ties with the BCCI, its President N Srinivasan said that he was ready for a dialogue with the group to sort out the issues.

IPL Chairman Rajiv Shukla also sought to diffuse the situation by saying that the authorities were open to discussions to resolve the contentious issues.

"Most certainly, we are ready to meet and sort out the matters. We have no problems with that. We do appreciate what Sahara have done. They might have felt aggrieved and did not get what they wanted from the IPL. We had good relationships and so we should sort out the issues," Srinivasan said.

Asked if he was sending out a message of reconciliation, Srinivasan said, "Personally yes. I am open to dialogue and BCCI is open to dialogue. We recognise there were grievances on their part but there was no reason to break suddenly."

Srinivasan acknowledged that it was an up and down relationship between BCCI and Sahara but refused to go to the specific issues to be dealt if such a meeting takes place.

"It has been an up and down relationship but when we meet I hope most of the issues will be resolved. There is an opportunity to sit across the table with Sahara. All issues will be discussed but it will be premature to speak about the issues now," the BCCI chief told a television channel.

Devil may care tone missing

The board's devil-may-care tone was missing earlier too when IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla said 'back channel negotiations' are on with Sahara to sort out the issue amicably.

"We have not yet officially heard anything from Sahara on the pull-out, but the board is ready to discuss the corporate's grievances," Shukla told reporters earlier today.

"After all, we have had a long and fruitful association."

An optimistic Shukla refused to treat the issue as closed, and said: "Pune Warriors are still part of the IPL and their genuine grievances would be addressed to their satisfaction."

Shukla said the board would like to hear out Sahara first before taking any decision. In any case, decisions cannot be taken on the spur of the moment because of a festering problem.

"They have been our partner for 12 long years and we cannot take any decision in a haste. We are hopeful of finding a solution soon," he said.