No decision yet on number of matches in IPL-4

The Indian Premier League's governing council failed to arrive at a decision on the number of matches to be played in the next edition of the Twenty20 tournament, at its meeting in Mumbai on Friday.

While eight teams were in the fray in the first three editions, IPL-4 will feature 10 teams following the addition of Sahara Pune Warriors and the Kochi franchise.

There were indications that the organisers could go for a shorter tournament in terms of the number of matches.

But Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary n Srinivasan said, "We discussed the IPL accounts. After that there was a (BCCI) finance committee meeting."

IPL vice-chairman Niranjan Shah also confirmed that nothing else, barring the accounts, was discussed at Friday's meeting, adding another meeting of the Council is scheduled for the first week of September.

"Nothing else other than IPL accounts was discussed (at the Governing Council) meeting. There would be another meeting in the first week of September," Shah said.

Shah also said no proposal on the number of matches in the fourth IPL season was tabled.

In the run-up to Friday's meeting IPL sources had said the full compliment of 94 matches, going by the existing format, would not be possible and 73-74 matches are being planned.

"Playing 94 matches is not possible especially in the months of April-May-June when IPL-4 is to be held. Maybe, we will go for 73-74 matches in all," a source had said on Thursday.

There is also a move to restrict India's centrally contracted players to 12 games each following complaints of a hectic schedule for the national squad.

According to BCCI sources the Board has suffered a deficit of Rs 39 crore for the 2009-10 season after deducting an amount of Rs 202 crore distributed to 25 state associations and each association is likely to get at least Rs 6 crore.

"The expenses had mounted due to IPL (II) being held in South Africa. A total amount of Rs 83 crore was spent," they said.

Meanwhile, Telecom giant Bharti Airtel won the Indian cricket team's home series sponsorship rights for a period of three years.

Airtel won the sponsorship rights for all the three formats of the game starting from September 1 this year to March 31, 2013 for a staggering Rs 3.33 crore per game.

The deal was finalised at the BCCI's marketing committee earlier in morning.

"Bharti Airtel has won the Series Sponsorship Rights for the period of 2010-2013 with a bid amount of 3.33 crore per Test/ODI/T20 International," BCCI secretary N Srinivasan said in a statement.

Airtel won the rights from sports management firm World Sports Group (WSG), which was not permitted to submit bids this time.

According to the deal, Airtel will also get to advertise its brand on prime spots at the grounds and even the stumps.

About 10 corporate houses, including major telecom brands like Idea and Aircel, and firms like Future Group, Hero Honda and Micromax were in the running for the sponsorship rights.