Rajasthan, Punjab removed from India's IPL

BANGALORE: Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab have been thrown out of the Indian Premier League over ownership issues, tournament organisers said on Sunday.

The governing council of the cash-rich Twenty20 event, owned by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), also issued notices to the new Kochi franchise to resolve their ownership disputes.

"The governing council of the IPL met today to discuss and decide on the breaches committed by three of the franchisees, Punjab, Rajasthan and Kochi," the BCCI said in a statement.

"It was unanimously decided that franchise agreements with Punjab and Rajasthan be terminated forthwith based on legal opinions obtained by the BCCI in the matters.

"It was further unanimously decided to issue a notice to Kochi calling upon them to resolve all their disputes and form a joint venture company which will hold the IPL Franchise rights."

The BCCI did not specify the breaches committed the franchisees.

Kings XI Punjab had been bought for $76million in 2008 by a consortium comprising businessmen Ness Wadia, Mohit Burman, Karan Paul, Aditya Khanna and Bollywood actress Preity Zinta.

Rajasthan Royals was bought for $67million by businessmen Manoj Badale and Lachlan Murdoch, who were later joined by Raj Kundra and Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty.

Both teams took part in the first three editions of IPL, before their ownership deals were questioned by BCCI officials who were probing financial irregularities by former IPL chief Lalit Modi.

The six other original franchises are Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, Bangalore Royal Challengers, Deccan Chargers, Delhi Daredevils and Mumbai Indians.

Two new franchises, Kochi and Pune, are to be added from the 2011 edition with a fresh auction of players to be held later this year.

Rajasthan Royals, captained by former Australian spin wizard Shane Warne, won the inaugural tournament in 2008.

The Punjab team included Sri Lankan stars Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, Australian pace bowler Brett Lee and India's Yuvraj Singh.