New Delhi:
In an exclusive interview to NDTV's Vikram Chandra, cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has cleared the air on the Kochi controversy and has also revealed that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not paid him for services to the Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council.
Gavaskar was a member of the council for three years of the tournament. "I am yet to be paid by the BCCI for my role on the IPL Governing Council. I have not been paid at all by the BCCI, since I took on the offer," Gavaskar said. He said that he had sent what he called "a gentle reminder about the non-payment", and that, "I have just been told that Mr (Sharad) Pawar will organise a meeting between Shashank Manohar (BCCI chief) and me in his presence to sort out the matter and that for me is good enough."
He wouldn't tell, however, what the offer had been worth, saying, with a smile, "Never ask a woman her age and never ask a man what he gets."
Gavaskar denied that he had any links with the beleaguered Kochi IPL franchise. He also pointed out that it was impossible for him to have interfered in a sealed bid, adding that he had no conflict of interest in the Kochi franchise. "They only came to me for advice," he said.
Reports that Gavaskar would head the cricket operations of the strife-riven Kochi franchise had surfaced after the BCCI issued a 30-day notice to the team owners to set their house in order or face termination.
However, Gavaskar claimed that there was no contract or even talk of remuneration yet with the Kochi team owners and he would like to wait and see what happened before accepting any offer. "I will wait for Kochi's internal problems to be resolved before deciding to take up the offer. Apart from Kochi, I have also been approached by another franchise to head cricket operations," the Little Master said.
Watch Live Webcast of Full Interview at 9.30 pm IST, tonight (Tuesday).