In the end, it may have been all hunky-dory between BCCI and Sahara but the happy ending could be arrived at only after five days of intense negotiations. Having openly rejected Sahara’s demands at the working committee, the BCCI realised it had a lot to lose if they let go the Pune Warriors. So it engaged itself in intense back-channel talks and unleashed a group of interlocutors to hammer out a ‘please-all solution’.
Ajay Shirke, the board’s treasurer, was a key negotiator who virtually parked himself at the Sahara Star hotel. He was at the negotiating table every day before and after the working committee meeting on Monday. IPL COO Sundar Raman was not far away, helping Shirke in the talks. BCCI president N Srinivasan was available on phone 24/7. It is understood that the BCCI insisted that the IPL deal cannot be de-linked with the sponsorship issue.
One active member in the discussions was Arun Jaitley. The BCCI vice-president was apparently constantly in touch with Shirke and Sundar explaining the legalities of the points of contention. Even the joint statement was released after his approval. “The outcome of our talks is good for the fans,” said Sundar.
“It was a success of Team BCCI led by our captain Srinivasan,” said Shirke, who is also the president of Maharashtra Cricket Association. Shirke, who is known to be close to the Sahara Group, was actually called from London to initiate talks.
From Sahara’s side, three main persons were involved in the negotiations. Apart from Subrata Roy, his son Sushanto and team director Abhijit Sarkar were part of the process of negotiations.
As for Kolkata Knight Riders’ owner Shah Rukh Khan’s role, it is understood that the Bollywood star involved himself in the interest of the league. He is also believed to have gone to the hotel urging the Roys of Sahara to relent from their hard stand.
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