IPL becomes DLF-IPL, BCCI bags Rs 200 cr

Mumbai: Real estate developer DLF Group has won the title sponsorship of the Indian Premier League (IPL) after its successful Rs 200-crore bid. IPL Chairman and Commissioner Lalit Modi said out of four bidders, one withdrew from the race while three stayed in the fray.

"DLF won after bidding at Rs 200 crores and from now and for the next five years, it will be called 'The DLF Indian Premier League'," Modi said.

The three other bidders apart from DLF were Percept D'Mark, Hero Honda along with WSG and 21st Century even though the latter withdrew their bid as they wanted extra time to discuss the product category.

"We accepted their request for withdrawal as they wanted 24 hours on product category and exclusivity and as per the rules state, they had to identify that on the time of the bidding," Modi said. The bidding started at Rs 125 crores.

Modi, also the BCCI vice-president, said the auction of the players would commence on February 20 in the morning where the franchises would make bids on the players with a maximum amount to be spent would be $5 million.

On the decision to include more icon players to the present four, Modi said, "There were divergent views whether players should be included or not because it was not a part of the tender condition.

"The IPL governing body has made a suggestion to the members and told the franchises to come to a decision on this issue by February 19... either 'yes' or 'no' and we will abide by the decision. "

Modi said the governing council couldn't legally decide on the issue because of the tender conditions and only the franchise was entitled to take this decision.

He said all the players expected to play in the league have signed by the memorandum of understanding, including the Australian players, and the only issue left is now of signing the 'long-term agreement', which will be done by Sunday.

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Regarding reports of certain business houses showing interest in buying the teams, Modi said: "IPL is aware of the major stakeholders and its associates... it is ambiguous but it is a possibility."

"There are certain clauses, which one has to fulfill and only a certain percentage can be sold." He added that this was a good opportunity for the players who are seeing an option from playing cricket throughout the year and looking for time to spend with their family and also refuted the threat that the players playing in the county season will opt for the IPL.

"We will be hiring the best talent, best players and coaches and will also have the best infrastructure in place and this will benefit only the game." Modi said the IPL governing council and its franchises had taken another decision on ratifying the contracts of MAK Pataudi, Ravi Shastri and Sunil Gavaskar.