BCCI open to having a dialogue with former Indian team sponsor Sahara

Mumbai/Chennai, Feb.6 (ANI): Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president N Srinivasan on Monday said that he is open to the idea of having a dialogue with Sahara India Parivar to try and resolve the dispute that led to Sahara pulling out of its Indian team sponsorship and ownership of the Pune Warriors IPL franchise.

"BCCI is open to dialogue, we recognise the long relationship we have had with Sahara, we have no problems facing this," Srinivasan told Times Now.

He added: "We've had an excellent relationship with Sahara for the last 12 years. We can't prejudge what issues will be discussed when BCCI and Sahara meet, but we recognise the relationship with them and are sure of sorting out the issue."

BCCI vice-president and the IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla said: "We are open to discussions, open for dialogue because they have been our partner for 11 years. We don't want anything to be decided in haste. So far, they [Sahara Pune Warriors] are still an IPL franchise, unless we get anything in writing from them. We are extremely positive."

Sahara had announced its decision to walk away from Indian cricket on February 4, an hour before the IPL auction was due to begin. They did not take part in the auction in Bangalore.

In its formal statement, Sahara referred to several points of dispute with the BCCI, dating back to its first sponsorship deal in 2001 but largely relating to the IPL. It said it would "continue paying the sponsorship money" to the BCCI for a period of "2-4 months" it would take to find a new sponsor.

In its initial response, the BCCI said Sahara's decision was "unfortunate".

However Shukla said the board needed a formal intimation in writing from Sahara before it could decide on a future course of action. (ANI)