All access for badge boys

He spoke about how Shah Rukh was not aware of the rules and that the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit officials and BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah were only going by the book. “The ACU officials too were doing their job. Shah Rukh didn’t have the red badge that was needed to be in the dug out and Niranjan Shah is right when he says that only accreditated people should be allowed there,” said Modi.

Clearing the way for Shah Rukh and the other frachise owners to be close to the players during the game, he said, “There is ambiguity on who should be allowed in the dugout. Effective from today, one owner of every team will have an official red badge to be in the dugout area or in dressing room.”

Not just that, the coach and the manager of the franchise teams can now use their discretion in issuing four passes that will allow persons of their choice to access the dressing room and the dugout for 15 minutes during a game. “Those who wish to enter the team dugout, apart from the accredited one, need to possess the ‘visiting badge’,” he said.

The reason why it was important that the owners are close to the teams, according to Modi, was because of their strategic inputs to the team. “Like the BCCI officials when India plays, the owners too have the right to be with their players and support staff,” he said. Modi said since this was the first year of the IPL they were still learning the ropes. “If we make mistakes we are willing to set them right. This is the first year of the IPL.”

“We had already provided such badges to Preity Zinta (owner of Punjab Kings XI) and Vijay Mallya (owner of Bangalore Royal Challengers) as we had received such a request from them in advance,” Modi explained.

“The team owners have the right to be with the team at all times. They are very much part of the team’s strategies,” he added.

On reports of Australian players not receiving their payments, Modi said that this has been due to the taxation complications of different countries. “I can guarantee the players that if there has been a delay, it has been for their own benefit with the taxation issues being taken care of and all the players would get their payments.”