MCC rules out IPL franchise option

Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff locked horns in last year's Indian Premier League, which featured eight teams

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MCC has today confirmed that it decided not to pursue a bid to part-own a new Indian Premier League franchise.

Two new IPL franchises became available for ownership in the 2011 tournament, but following a fact-finding mission to Mumbai, the MCC committee decided against its involvement with a single team.

An MCC statement today explained that “it has decided that its best position lies in a broader relationship with the IPL as a whole”.

Since its first tournament in 2008, all eight IPL franchises have adhered to MCC’s core Spirit of Cricket charter.

MCC confirmed in February that chief executive Keith Bradshaw and trustee Anthony Wreford travelled to India to discuss proposals with potential IPL consortium members. A working party later reported back to the MCC committee.

Bradshaw said: “After a healthy debate and a thorough investigation, MCC’s committee has decided to uphold the recommendation of our working party not to proceed as an equity stakeholder in a new IPL franchise.

“Having said that, we will continue to discuss other ideas with the IPL and, through their support of the MCC Spirit of Cricket campaign, maintain a close working relationship with them.

“The world of cricket is fast-changing and there’s no doubt the IPL is going to be a central part of that world for the foreseeable future.

“We will remain in close contact with the IPL to develop mutually beneficial opportunities.”

The identity and base of the two new IPL franchises are set to be announced on March 7, a day ahead of originally announced.

MCC president John Barclay and head of cricket John Stephenson will travel to Mumbai to attend the 2010 IPL opening ceremony on March 12.