IPL 2021 – IMG BCCI deal: IMG has denied the reports of termination of their IPL event management rights deal with BCCI. According to a statement issued by IMG, the company is still in discussion about the future of the deal with BCCI. On Friday, it was reported in Indian media that BCCI has terminated the 13 year relationship with IMG and are planning to conduct the IPL 2021 season on their own.
In a brief statement, IMG said: “We are in discussions with our colleagues at the BCCI, who we are proud to support on the IPL which has become one of the world’s leading sporting events since its inception in 2007. Most recently, together we safely delivered a successful 2020 season in the UAE, despite extraordinary challenges posed by the global pandemic.”
The global sporting giant IMG has been managing IPL since its inception but according to the reports, the Indian cricket board has decided to move on.
It is worth noting that after completion of first 10 years of relationship, BCCI had signed a new contract with IMG in 2017 for 5 years. But according to a report by TOI on Friday, the BCCI will not be working anymore with IMG.
“The BCCI has, over the years, gained rich experience in running the league and is well-equipped to put in place a world class team to run the show. Right now, all we can say is that the partnership with IMG has run its course,” TOI quoted top sources.
IMG – BCCI relationship details ?
According to the information coming in from the BCCI sources, with-in the board voices against the IMG deal has been raised on continuous basis. The prime reason being why IMG is being made hefty payments for conducting the league – when the same can be delivered at half a price in India.
– IMG was signed on 27 Cr annual deal in 2008
– IMG management fee was increased to 33 Cr in 2009 and was again re-negotiated for 28 Cr in 2010.
– In the new deal in 2017, IMG was given a hike of 40% from the previous fee.
The informed sources told InsideSport that voices against these hefty payments to IMG were raised in almost every BCCI and IPL Governing Council meeting. In-fact when Brijesh Patel took over as the IPL Chairman and conducted his first meeting in Nov. 2019 – the discussion on the deal was one of the main point on agenda.
BCCI is yet to officially announce their official take on the matter.
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