BCCI relieves CSK and RR from paying annual IPL franchise fees

THE BCCI has exempted defunct Indian Premier League (IPL) teams Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals from paying the annual franchise fees during their suspension period (2016-2018). The two teams were suspended for a two-year term in July 2015, following a corruption scandal. 

As reported by espncricinfo, the decision was made during the board’s recent working committee meeting in Delhi. Besides waiving off annual fees, the board is also set to return the first instalment of the fee paid by the franchises.

A CSK official also claimed that both the franchises had withdrawn from the legal proceedings after the board opted to settle the matter off the court. 

"There is no need to pay the franchise fee when we are suspended. They will refund the franchise fee which we have paid so far [under protest]. We have already withdrawn the case from the Bombay High Court. When they asked for the full and final [instalment] of payment, we approached the court for a stay and then we invoked the arbitration clause. Arbitrators were also in favour [of Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals], so they [BCCI] went for an out of court settlement."