- 'It is very difficult to build a brand, but it is very easy to destroy it and if such things keep happening, we will have to think of shifting the game out of the country.'
The Indian Premier League has emerged as a global sports brand, but some people are trying to 'destroy' the T20 league and new controversies are being created every year, forcing the Board of Control for Cricket in India to consider shifting the cash-rich tournament abroad in 2017, IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla said on Friday.
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Nobody raised the issue of water being used for preparing cricket grounds during the World T20 in March-April, he said referring to controversy around using water for maintaining pitches for IPL
matches in drought-affected Maharashtra.
"Several matches took place in Maharashtra during the T20 World Cup and same amount of water was being used (for IPL matches). However, nobody questioned use of water at that time
and it is only during IPL the issue has been raised," the senior Congress leader said in Pune.
"In the last one decade, IPL has emerged as a global brand and people in 182 countries see the games. However, some people are trying to destroy it.
"It is very difficult to build a brand, but it is very easy to destroy it and if such things keep happening, we will have to think of shifting the game out of the country," he added.
He supported Mumbai Cricket Association's decision to move the Supreme Court against the Bombay High Court order directing shifting of IPL matches outside Maharashtra in view of the prevailing drought in the state.
Both Maharashtra Cricket Association and MCA are affected bodies and they have all the right to go to the apex court against shifting of IPL matches," he said.
"We will implement whatever the apex court rules," Shukla further added.
