Mumbai: The Indian premier league (IPL) has hit its biggest hurdle – politicians fighting a turf battle.
After weeks of uncertainty, four changed schedules, endless speculation, the league is now up against the men who rule key states which will host some of the games.
Top sources in BCCI have told CNN-IBN that chief ministers of Congress ruled states are creating problems.
The sources reveal that the Maharashtra chief minister is refusing to give his go ahead despite the fact that the state's home minister has given his approval.
The sources say this is because the home minister is from the NCP and the chief minister of the Congress
Andhra Pradesh, which had cleared the dates for the games has now backtracked.
These allegations come just hours after an emergency meeting of IPL and BCCI officials where political top gun, Congress ally and ICC vice president Sharad Pawar was drafted to use his clout with the government. IPL boss Lalit Modi indicating that if the schedule is not approved in full, the pageant could be moved out.
It'll be up to Pawar to push the IPL's case when he meets home minister P Chidambram on Monday which might be a tough job with the minister's priority clearly the elections.
The fate of cricket's extravaganza then rests on the power of Pawar's persuasion and Chidambaram's flexibility.
After weeks of uncertainty, the IPL's fate could be sealed or secured by Monday, unless of course, the BCCI runs out of patience and time.
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