The Board of Control for Cricket in India says it was not aware of the Kochi consortium's "links" with former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, who was a member of the Indian Premier League's Governing Council before being ousted a few weeks ago.
However, Gavaskar's alleged involvement in the whole process may just include another item in the agenda of the IPL Governing Council when it meets on Thursday in Nagpur to decide the Kochi team's fate.
Gavaskar has been roped in an advisory capacity by the franchise, which says it did so after he was ousted from the governing council.
BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla said the Board was not aware of the consortium's move.
"We were not aware of Gavaskar's links with the Kochi IPL," Shukla said.
"We were never informed, because this issue was never there. This is for the first time we are coming to know about this. We will discuss the issue in the meeting tomorrow," he added.
However, Shukla clarified that at this point of time, neither the BCCI nor the IPL Governing Council will write to the legendary batsman and seek his clarification on the matter.
Gavaskar was ousted from the IPL Governing Council allegedly because of a payment dispute.
The crux of Kochi team's problems are who will run the affairs of the franchise, bought from the BCCI for US $333 million, once the joint venture is formed.
The investors include corporate firms Anchor Earth, Parinee Developers, Rosy Blue and Film Wave -- who hold 75 per cent of the equity.
The remaining 25 per cent has been given to the family of Gaekwads -- Shailendra, his brother Ravi and their parents, plus a few others, all part of the group of promoters -- Rendezvous Sports World -- as free equity for services rendered in successfully bidding for the franchise.
The Board had given the franchise 10 days' time on October 10 to resolve their internal differences and the franchise responded by submitting a letter to the BCCI on the last day of the deadline, October 20.
