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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) received another setback on Wednesday when the Bombay High Court stayed the termination of Kings XI Punjab from the Indian Premier League.
Justice S J Vazifdar remarked that going by the documents, Kings XI had "made out a strong case".
The dispute will now again go before a new arbitrator -- earlier arbitrator Justice B N Srikrishna having recused himself -- but as of now Kings XI will be able to participate in the players' auction in January.
Kings XI will have to, however, furnish bank guarantees for making up the losses that BCCI, as well as the its own players might suffer in case the arbitrator's award goes against Kings XI.
The judge also said that Kings XI will have to clear the dues of players for the previous IPL season.
"It is a question of national prestige," he said.
Interestingly, Justice Srikrishna, who was arbitrator in dispute between BCCI and Rajasthan Royals, too had observed that prima facie termination of Royals' agreement was illegal.
The decision comes as a big relief for Punjab, who could now push to participate in the fourth season of the IPL next year.
Earlier, Rajasthan Royals had also managed to obtain a six-week stay order against the scrapping of their team from the IPL.
The ruling means that the next edition of the IPL could feature 10 teams, a scenario that the BCCI is trying hard to avoid.