MI shoot off second letter on IPL auction controversy

Mumbai, Feb 11 (PTI) Miffed by the non-response from theCricket Board of its letter, which had hinted foul-play in IPLauction last month, Mumbai Indians have shot off a secondmissive, re-iterating the various irregularities during thePlayers'' auctions that was held in Bangalore last month.

It is learnt that MI has sent a strongly-worded letterexpressing shock why the board chose not to respond to thefranchise which had highlighted irregularities in the January8-9 player auction.

The franchise had, on January 20, written a letter,hinting at potential rigging of the auction.

In the second letter, MI had pointed out that the BCCIdid not bother to reply to them directly and instead choseto answer through a media release, according to sources.

After the governing council meeting on February 4, BCCIsecretary N Srinivasan released a statement, stating that theauction was transparent and fair.

Not satisfied with the BCCI''s response through the media,MI have reiterated their demands for agenda paper, minutes ofthe December 17 meeting, agenda containing justification forchange in the order of auction, quorum and minutes of themeeting where the changes were made and also the basis onwhich the groupings in the auction were made.

This comes after another IPL franchisee Rajasthan Royalsdemanded Rs 120 crore from the Cricket Board as damages fortheir suspension from the Twenty20 league.

The Board had terminated the contract with the franchisealleging that it had breached the agreement by changing itsshareholding pattern without the Board''s consent.

Royals took legal recourse through the arbitrator, whoruled in their favour.

BCCI appealed in the Bombay High Court against the stayof the termination of the contract given by the arbitrator butthe High Court also ruled in Royals'' favour.