IPL 2019: Kings XI Punjab in Risk of Getting Suspended After Arrest of Co-Owner Ness Wadia
May 2, 2019 at 12:04 PM
Kings XI Punjab co-owner Ness Wadia has been sentenced for possession of drugs while enjoying his holiday in Japan. It could eventually lead King XI Punjab team into trouble. As per the rules of the operation of the tournament, no team official involved with the IPL can act in a manner which brings the morale of the game down and also disrespects it. If Ness Wadia is found guilty, Kings XI Punjab can be suspended as a team from the tournament in the next year.
There is no clarification on this particular matter and the matter is first required to be sent to the commission for further investigation. As per reports, the commission is expected to forward the findings to the ombudsman looking after the case.
The act of Ness Wadia comes 4 years after Chennai Super Kings also had to face the brunt for the acts of the team principal. Just like that particular incident, a senior BCCI functionary stated that the franchise might get into deep trouble if Ness Wadia is proved of possessing drugs.
“The KXIP are unfortunately looking at suspension as a best-case scenario and termination as a worst case scenario due to the conviction of an owner in a criminal case of drug possession.
“No less than the Lodha panel had suspended the CSK for two years because their team official was accused of betting. In this case we have an owner convicted of drug possession by a criminal court. If he was a state cricket official he would have stood disqualified from holding office automatically.
“This also exposes the discriminatory provisions of the new BCCI constitution which is draconian for a state association but doesn’t put any restriction on a franchise official even though IPL performances clearly matter more for selection to the Indian team than Ranji performances,” the functionary told IANS.
Kings XI Punjab has played some indifferent cricket in the 12th edition of the Indian Premier League which have resulted in them losing 7 of their 12 matches. They are staring down and one more defeat will surely knock them out of the tournament. However, there is still an outside chance of Punjab making it to the playoffs. However, it will be interesting to see whether they can play as a team next year after Ness Wadia’s drug possession case.