Raj Kundra will cooperate in probe, says Rajasthan Royals CEO

Rajasthan Royals chief executive Raghu Iyer has said the franchise will cooperate with the investigating agencies in the IPL betting scandal. A panel appointed by the Supreme Court came down heavily on Royals co-owner Kundra and his actor-wife Shilpa Shetty for betting in the IPL. "We will abide by whatever the Supreme Court says in the matter next month and the BCCI decision," Iyer told IANS on the sidelines of a seminar organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

The seventh edition of the league will be played abroad because of the general elections, but Iyer said the move will adversely affect teams. "I am afraid it may not be a good move, considering the running costs of the tournament will go up and consequently the franchise stand to lose out on substantial revenues. But then there is no way out, we have to live with such things."

Is it good for the IPL if it has to go out of the country every fifth year because it clashes with the general elections? "I feel the league can be more popular, like it was in 2009 when played in South Africa. So every fifth year, we get a chance to take it overseas and give it a different flavour. This year, hopefully, we will see the IPL being played in India for at least a month after the elections are over," he added.