<p>It is the biggest cricket tournament of the year. The Indian Premier League. A festival for the fans. A money minter for the Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) - the biggest cricket board in the world.</p>

<p>But, the IPL is facing boycott calls this year. Because, the BCCI won’t dump a Chinese sponsor. Vivo – a Chinese smartphone company is the title sponsor of the tournament. Come September - its logo will be plastered all over IPL venues in the UAE.</p>

<p>At a time - when China isn’t willing to back down from the border. After the PLA launched an unprovoked attack on Indian soldiers. 20 Indian soldiers had died in June. India retaliated --- by punishing Chinese companies. Indian citizens are boycotting Chinese products.</p>

<p>But India’s biggest cricket tournament - will not dump Vivo. A Chinese brand.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2020-in-uae-from-match-timings-to-womens-ipl-key-takeaways-from-ipl-gc-meeting-317694" hreflang="en">IPL 2020 in UAE: From match timings to women's IPL - Key takeaways from IPL GC meeting</a></strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/boycottipl?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#boycottipl</a><br />
I'm a huge IPL fan, especially <a href="https://twitter.com/mipaltan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mipaltan</a>. But I won't watch until they change this decision.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2020?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL2020</a> <a href="https://t.co/Hozsz7yzuO">pic.twitter.com/Hozsz7yzuO</a></p>
— Soham Parmar (@Defier_52) <a href="https://twitter.com/Defier_52/status/1289988276183371776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 2, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Indian Premier League (IPL) is a business &amp; those running this biz are insensitive towards the nation and it’s security concerns. Whole world is boycotting China, IPL is sheltering them. They should understand that nothing is above nation, not even cricket. Ppl may <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BoycottIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BoycottIPL</a> <a href="https://t.co/6nyjJ1nCSE">https://t.co/6nyjJ1nCSE</a></p>
— ASHWANI MAHAJAN (@ashwani_mahajan) <a href="https://twitter.com/ashwani_mahajan/status/1290000344928227329?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 2, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BoycottIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BoycottIPL</a><br />
<br />
Shame on you <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BCCI</a> <a href="https://t.co/8a6IYebjzL">pic.twitter.com/8a6IYebjzL</a></p>
— Raghu shukla 🇮🇳👳 (@Raghushukla13) <a href="https://twitter.com/Raghushukla13/status/1290061876957650944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 2, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>Needless to say - this decision hasn’t gone down well with a large section of Indians. From the politicians to citizens, they all have slammed the BCCI. The opposition has latched onto the issue to take on the government. On twitter, angry fans started a hashtag -- boycott IPL.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-marnus-labuschagne-thriving-to-be-the-best-316956" hreflang="en">Exclusive | Marnus Labuschagne: Thriving to be the best</a></strong></p>

<p>Confederation of All India Traders have written to the government. The letter has gone to Home Minister Amit shah --- as well as External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar. They claim that BCCI decision “smacks of its lust for money”. The confederation wants the permission to the BCCI withdrawn.</p>

<p>The IPL starts on the 19th of September. The tournament will be moved to the UAE this year. Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah will be the three venues for the money-spinning tournament.</p>

<h2><strong>Why can’t the BCCI dump Vivo?</strong></h2>

<p>Since 2018 --- the board received close to INR 3,300 crores for media rights. More than 400 million dollars. It earns 700 crores in sponsorships. That's 93 million dollars. Vivo pays the board 440 crores for the title sponsorship per year. Or 58 million dollars. All of this, doesn’t go into BCCI’s pocket.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-australias-josh-hazlewood-opens-up-on-england-and-india-series-ipl-2020-injuries-and-more-316469" hreflang="en">EXCLUSIVE: Australia's Josh Hazlewood opens up on England and India series, IPL 2020, injuries and more</a></strong></p>

<p><strong>Half of t</strong>he revenue from the IPL. is distributed to the eight franchises. After doing that --- the BCCI is left with around two thousand crores as income. Or 265 million dollars.</p>

<p>That’s the kind of money that the BCCI makes from the tournament. It can afford to let go of the 440 crores from Vivo.</p>

<p>But, it hasn’t. Reportedly, it was too late for the BCCI to take a call. There are also fears of legal liabilities too. In 2018, Vivo had secured the title sponsorship for the IPL for five years. With a mammoth bid of INR 2,199 crores. That's close to $300 million.</p>

<p>Allegedly - the exit clause in the contract favours the Chinese company.&nbsp;Cricket is more than a sport for India. It is a religion. You must have heard that often.</p>

<p>But, it is also a diplomatic tool. Used to send a message to India’s adversaries. The Indian cricket team doesn’t play with Pakistan. Pakistani players are banned from the IPL.</p>

<p>In 2017, Pakistani commentators were banned too. Why can’t Chinese sponsors be given the boot? How much money is enough for the richest cricket board in the world?</p>

<p>According to a report --- the BCCI had more than five thousand crores as cash and bank balances in its 2018 balance sheets.</p>

<p>That's more than 600 million dollars. A little more than two thousand crores was in the form of fixed deposits. In comparison, the money from the vivo sponsorship is pocket change. Something that the bcci won’t miss from its balance sheets.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


It is the biggest cricket tournament of the year. The Indian Premier League. A festival for the fans. A money minter for the Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) - the biggest cricket board in the world.

It is the biggest cricket tournament of the year. The Indian Premier League. A festival for the fans. A money minter for the Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) - the biggest cricket board in the world. But, the IPL is facing boycott calls this year. Because, the BCCI won’t dump a Chinese sponsor. Vivo – a Chinese smartphone company is the title sponsor of the tournament. Come September - its logo will be plastered all over IPL venues in the UAE. At a time - when China isn’t willing to back down from the border. After the PLA launched an unprovoked attack on Indian soldiers. 20 Indian soldiers had died in June. India retaliated --- by punishing Chinese companies. Indian citizens are boycotting Chinese products. But India’s biggest cricket tournament - will not dump Vivo. A Chinese brand. ALSO READ: IPL 2020 in UAE: From match timings to women's IPL - Key takeaways from IPL GC meeting #boycottipl I'm a huge IPL fan, especially @mipaltan. But I won't watch until they change this decision.#IPL2020 pic.twitter.com/Hozsz7yzuO — Soham Parmar (@Defier_52) August 2, 2020 × Indian Premier League (IPL) is a business & those running this biz are insensitive towards the nation and it’s security concerns. Whole world is boycotting China, IPL is sheltering them. They should understand that nothing is above nation, not even cricket. Ppl may #BoycottIPL https://t.co/6nyjJ1nCSE — ASHWANI MAHAJAN (@ashwani_mahajan) August 2, 2020 × #BoycottIPL Shame on you @BCCI pic.twitter.com/8a6IYebjzL — Raghu shukla 🇮🇳👳 (@Raghushukla13) August 2, 2020 × Needless to say - this decision hasn’t gone down well with a large section of Indians. From the politicians to citizens, they all have slammed the BCCI. The opposition has latched onto the issue to take on the government. On twitter, angry fans started a hashtag -- boycott IPL. ALSO READ: Exclusive | Marnus Labuschagne: Thriving to be the best Confederation of All India Traders have written to the government. The letter has gone to Home Minister Amit shah --- as well as External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar. They claim that BCCI decision “smacks of its lust for money”. The confederation wants the permission to the BCCI withdrawn. The IPL starts on the 19th of September. The tournament will be moved to the UAE this year. Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah will be the three venues for the money-spinning tournament. Why can’t the BCCI dump Vivo? Since 2018 --- the board received close to INR 3,300 crores for media rights. More than 400 million dollars. It earns 700 crores in sponsorships. That's 93 million dollars. Vivo pays the board 440 crores for the title sponsorship per year. Or 58 million dollars. All of this, doesn’t go into BCCI’s pocket. ALSO READ: EXCLUSIVE: Australia's Josh Hazlewood opens up on England and India series, IPL 2020, injuries and more Half of the revenue from the IPL. is distributed to the eight franchises. After doing that --- the BCCI is left with around two thousand crores as income. Or 265 million dollars. That’s the kind of money that the BCCI makes from the tournament. It can afford to let go of the 440 crores from Vivo. But, it hasn’t. Reportedly, it was too late for the BCCI to take a call. There are also fears of legal liabilities too. In 2018, Vivo had secured the title sponsorship for the IPL for five years. With a mammoth bid of INR 2,199 crores. That's close to $300 million. Allegedly - the exit clause in the contract favours the Chinese company. Cricket is more than a sport for India. It is a religion. You must have heard that often. But, it is also a diplomatic tool. Used to send a message to India’s adversaries. The Indian cricket team doesn’t play with Pakistan. Pakistani players are banned from the IPL. In 2017, Pakistani commentators were banned too. Why can’t Chinese sponsors be given the boot? How much money is enough for the richest cricket board in the world? According to a report --- the BCCI had more than five thousand crores as cash and bank balances in its 2018 balance sheets. That's more than 600 million dollars. A little more than two thousand crores was in the form of fixed deposits. In comparison, the money from the vivo sponsorship is pocket change. Something that the bcci won’t miss from its balance sheets.

IPL's million-dollar Chinese connection

<p>The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday retained all the sponsors of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/ipl">Indian Premier League (IPL)</a> including the Chinese brands. Following the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2020-in-uae-from-match-timings-to-womens-ipl-key-takeaways-from-ipl-gc-meeting-317694">IPL Governing Council meeting</a> which decided on certain important factors including the logistics and match timings, the board decided not to sever ties with major sponsors including Chinese companies despite the recent political tensions between the two countries.</p>

<p>Chinese sponsorship in the IPL became talk of the country in the wake of clashes between Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh in June. While BCCI did tweet that it will meet to review IPL’s various sponsorship deals but the meeting never took place before the IPL GC met on Sunday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Taking note of the border skirmish that resulted in the martyrdom of our brave jawans, the IPL Governing Council has convened a meeting next week to review IPL’s various sponsorship deals,” IPL had tweeted on June 19.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2020-in-uae-from-match-timings-to-womens-ipl-key-takeaways-from-ipl-gc-meeting-317694" hreflang="en">IPL 2020 in UAE: From match timings to women's IPL - Key takeaways from IPL GC meeting</a></strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Taking note of the border skirmish that resulted in the martyrdom of our brave jawans, the IPL Governing Council has convened a meeting next week to review IPL’s various sponsorship deals 🇮🇳</p>
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL/status/1274027565926060034?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>One of the main reasons behind retaining Chinese sponsors in IPL 2020 is the difficulty to find new sponsors with similar financial proposals during these tough times.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"All I can say is that all our sponsors are with us. Hopefully, you can read between the lines," a Governing Council member was quoted as saying by PTI.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bccis-sops-on-resumption-of-training-consent-form-age-bracket-headline-100-page-guidelines-317834" hreflang="en">BCCI's SOPs on resumption of training: Consent form, age bracket headline 100-page guidelines</a></strong></p>

<p>Vivo – the principle sponsor of IPL – had signed a five-year deal in 2017 with the BCCI to the tune of Rs 2,199 crores. BCCI’s decision comes amid calls of ‘Boycott Chinese Products’ from all over the country after Galwan Valley clash where 20 Indian soldiers were martyred.</p>

<p>"We said we will review sponsorship. Review means that we need to check all the modalities of the contract. If the 'Exit Clause' favours VIVO more, why should we terminate a Rs 440 crore per year contract. We will only terminate if 'Exit Clause' favours us," a Board official had told PTI.</p>

<p>While Indian government has already banned 59 Chinese applications including some of the top social media platforms, to counter threat posed by these applications to country’s “sovereignty and security”, the BCCI decided to oblige to the current contract.</p>

<p>Other key decisions taken in the IPL GC meeting on Sunday were the match timings with evening games now set to start from 7:30 PM IST. The squads have also been restricted to 24-per-franchise with COVID-19 substitutions a llowed.The matches will be played at three venues in the UAE - Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.</p>


The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday retained all the sponsors of the Indian Premier League (IPL) including the Chinese brands. Following the IPL Governing Council meeting which decided on certain important factors including the logistics and match timings, the board decided not to sever ties with major sponsors including Chinese companies despite the recent political tensions between the two countries.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday retained all the sponsors of the Indian Premier League (IPL) including the Chinese brands. Following the IPL Governing Council meeting which decided on certain important factors including the logistics and match timings, the board decided not to sever ties with major sponsors including Chinese companies despite the recent political tensions between the two countries. Chinese sponsorship in the IPL became talk of the country in the wake of clashes between Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh in June. While BCCI did tweet that it will meet to review IPL’s various sponsorship deals but the meeting never took place before the IPL GC met on Sunday. “Taking note of the border skirmish that resulted in the martyrdom of our brave jawans, the IPL Governing Council has convened a meeting next week to review IPL’s various sponsorship deals,” IPL had tweeted on June 19. ALSO READ: IPL 2020 in UAE: From match timings to women's IPL - Key takeaways from IPL GC meeting Taking note of the border skirmish that resulted in the martyrdom of our brave jawans, the IPL Governing Council has convened a meeting next week to review IPL’s various sponsorship deals 🇮🇳 — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) June 19, 2020 × One of the main reasons behind retaining Chinese sponsors in IPL 2020 is the difficulty to find new sponsors with similar financial proposals during these tough times. "All I can say is that all our sponsors are with us. Hopefully, you can read between the lines," a Governing Council member was quoted as saying by PTI. ALSO READ: BCCI's SOPs on resumption of training: Consent form, age bracket headline 100-page guidelines Vivo – the principle sponsor of IPL – had signed a five-year deal in 2017 with the BCCI to the tune of Rs 2,199 crores. BCCI’s decision comes amid calls of ‘Boycott Chinese Products’ from all over the country after Galwan Valley clash where 20 Indian soldiers were martyred. "We said we will review sponsorship. Review means that we need to check all the modalities of the contract. If the 'Exit Clause' favours VIVO more, why should we terminate a Rs 440 crore per year contract. We will only terminate if 'Exit Clause' favours us," a Board official had told PTI. While Indian government has already banned 59 Chinese applications including some of the top social media platforms, to counter threat posed by these applications to country’s “sovereignty and security”, the BCCI decided to oblige to the current contract. Other key decisions taken in the IPL GC meeting on Sunday were the match timings with evening games now set to start from 7:30 PM IST. The squads have also been restricted to 24-per-franchise with COVID-19 substitutions a llowed.The matches will be played at three venues in the UAE - Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.

BCCI retains Chinese sponsors for IPL despite political tensions between two countries

<p>The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is highly unlikely to cut ties with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/ipl">IPL</a> title sponsors VIVO if the ‘exit clause’ favours the Chinese mobile phone makers, a senior BCCI official said on Wednesday. On June 19, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/ipl">IPL</a> took to social media platform Twitter to state that there would be a meeting to review the tournament’s various sponsor deals. However, that meeting is yet to take place.</p>

<p>Following the violent clash on June 15 in eastern Ladakh, the central government decided to ban 59 Chinese apps including the controversial TikTok. The BCCI official further said that the board never used the words ‘cancel’ or ‘terminate’ the deals.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We still don't know about the fate of T20 World Cup, Asia Cup, so how can we just have a meeting? Yes, we need to discuss sponsorship but we never used the word cancel or terminate," a senior BCCI official, who also sits in IPL GC meetings, told PTI on conditions of anonymity.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wc-2011-match-fixing-investigation-upul-tharanga-grilled-by-siu-kumar-sangakkara-to-appear-next-309908" hreflang="en">WC 2011 match-fixing investigation: Upul Tharanga grilled by SIU, Kumar Sangakkara to appear next</a></strong></p>

<h2>We will only terminate if 'Exit Clause' favours us: BCCI official on Chinese sponsorship in IPL</h2>

<p>"We said we will review sponsorship. Review means that we need to check all the modalities of the contract. If the 'Exit Clause' favours VIVO more, why should we terminate a Rs 440 crore per year contract? We will only terminate if 'Exit Clause' favours us," he added.</p>

<p>As per the PTI report, some BCCI officials are of the view that the board should honour the contract, which ends in 2022, unless VIVO backs out. Termination of the contract could mean that the Indian cricket board may have to pay substantial compensation.</p>

<p>However, the likes of PayTM, Dream XI, BYJUs and SWIGGY, who all have Chinese investors, might not have to sweat as they are Indian entities.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-news-ms-dhoni-named-captain-as-ab-de-villiers-picks-his-all-time-ipl-xi-309866" hreflang="en">MS Dhoni named captain as AB de Villiers picks his all-time IPL XI</a></strong></p>

<p>"Taking note of the border skirmish that resulted in the martyrdom of our brave jawans, the IPL Governing Council has convened a meeting next week to review IPL's various sponsorship deals," the official IPL twitter handle had stated on Friday, June 19.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Taking note of the border skirmish that resulted in the martyrdom of our brave jawans, the IPL Governing Council has convened a meeting next week to review IPL’s various sponsorship deals 🇮🇳</p>
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL/status/1274027565926060034?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>Interestingly, no meeting has been scheduled even after nearly two weeks of the tweet from IPL.</p>

<p>"I have called the IPL chairman (Brijesh Patel) and CEO (Rahul Johri) after I saw the tweet. But till date, I haven't been intimated about any meeting. Possibly, they want to have a big meeting once the T20 World Cup is officially postponed," one of the veteran GC members said.</p>


The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is highly unlikely to cut ties with IPL title sponsors VIVO if the ‘exit clause’ favours the Chinese mobile phone makers, a senior BCCI official said on Wednesday.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is highly unlikely to cut ties with IPL title sponsors VIVO if the ‘exit clause’ favours the Chinese mobile phone makers, a senior BCCI official said on Wednesday. On June 19, IPL took to social media platform Twitter to state that there would be a meeting to review the tournament’s various sponsor deals. However, that meeting is yet to take place. Following the violent clash on June 15 in eastern Ladakh, the central government decided to ban 59 Chinese apps including the controversial TikTok. The BCCI official further said that the board never used the words ‘cancel’ or ‘terminate’ the deals. "We still don't know about the fate of T20 World Cup, Asia Cup, so how can we just have a meeting? Yes, we need to discuss sponsorship but we never used the word cancel or terminate," a senior BCCI official, who also sits in IPL GC meetings, told PTI on conditions of anonymity. ALSO READ: WC 2011 match-fixing investigation: Upul Tharanga grilled by SIU, Kumar Sangakkara to appear next We will only terminate if 'Exit Clause' favours us: BCCI official on Chinese sponsorship in IPL "We said we will review sponsorship. Review means that we need to check all the modalities of the contract. If the 'Exit Clause' favours VIVO more, why should we terminate a Rs 440 crore per year contract? We will only terminate if 'Exit Clause' favours us," he added. As per the PTI report, some BCCI officials are of the view that the board should honour the contract, which ends in 2022, unless VIVO backs out. Termination of the contract could mean that the Indian cricket board may have to pay substantial compensation. However, the likes of PayTM, Dream XI, BYJUs and SWIGGY, who all have Chinese investors, might not have to sweat as they are Indian entities. ALSO READ: MS Dhoni named captain as AB de Villiers picks his all-time IPL XI "Taking note of the border skirmish that resulted in the martyrdom of our brave jawans, the IPL Governing Council has convened a meeting next week to review IPL's various sponsorship deals," the official IPL twitter handle had stated on Friday, June 19. Taking note of the border skirmish that resulted in the martyrdom of our brave jawans, the IPL Governing Council has convened a meeting next week to review IPL’s various sponsorship deals 🇮🇳 — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) June 19, 2020 × Interestingly, no meeting has been scheduled even after nearly two weeks of the tweet from IPL. "I have called the IPL chairman (Brijesh Patel) and CEO (Rahul Johri) after I saw the tweet. But till date, I haven't been intimated about any meeting. Possibly, they want to have a big meeting once the T20 World Cup is officially postponed," one of the veteran GC members said.

Chinese sponsors in IPL: BCCI unlikely to cut ties if 'exit clause' favours VIVO