Indian Premier League’s (IPL) Governing Council’s decision to retain all its sponsors, including Chinese mobile company VIVO has infuriated a huge number of fans across India. The IPL GC took the big decision after its meeting on Sunday. The thirteenth edition of the tournament will take place in the UAE from September 19 to November 10.
From Covid-19 replacements, 24-member squads, the IPL GC took several important decisions but their decision to retain the Chinese sponsorship has caused a huge controversy. Chinese sponsorship became a bone of contention after the clashes between the Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh in June. The BCCI had promised to review the deals in the aftermath of the violent showdown.
But to many’s surprise, the Indian cricket board decided to stick with the Chinese sponsors. As a result, VIVO will continue to be the title sponsors of the cash-rich league. In December last year, Vivo retained the title sponsorship of the IPL after submitting a bid of Rs 2,199 crore over the next five years. Vivo had won the rights for IPL title sponsorship for the first time in 2016.
“All I can say is that all our sponsors are with us. Hopefully you can read between the lines,” an IPL GC member was quoted as saying by PTI.
Meanwhile, the fans were quick to slam BCCI for their decision. The fans took to Twitter to express their disappointment over the decision as #BoycottIPL started trending.
Here are some of the reactions:
It’s time to @imVkohli and other Indian cricketers to boycott IPL in support of our Country and Soldiers. https://t.co/wjpc58754I
— St . Sinner. (@retheeshraj10) August 2, 2020
https://twitter.com/Raghushukla13/status/1290061876957650944
Me retweeting #BoycottIPL from vivo mobile. pic.twitter.com/MQl6erji8H
— Kingroberts♠️? (@Kingrob92843560) August 2, 2020
Please watch Vivo IPL. It will make Jay Shah happy. But please boycott Vivo mobile phones. It will make Amit Shah happy.
— PuNsTeR™ (@Pun_Starr) August 2, 2020
#Anti_National_IPL
Rest of India is going to boycott Chinese goods , meanwhile @BCCI & @IPL is begging Chinese companies for sponsoring @IPL . the Hunger of business is more important than the martyrs of 20 soldiers .— S.A.Dar (@S_A_D0997) August 2, 2020
https://twitter.com/KabirBitch/status/1290024762811355136
https://twitter.com/How_Symbolic/status/1289972686240665601
People tweets about #BoycottIPL &
Also the same peeps when any Chinese electronic brand gets launched in India. pic.twitter.com/CTzHCYsj1j
— Mantu Bhattacharya (@MantuBhattacha2) August 3, 2020
When you were waiting for #IPL2020 so badly whole year and now see #BoycottIPL on trend: pic.twitter.com/dCRLe0hWqF
— Singh (@ksingh_CS) August 2, 2020
#BoycottIPL is trending
Le Chinese Company Sponsors be like:- pic.twitter.com/7io316CyuX
— रचित M❤️ (@rachit1m) August 2, 2020
People tweeting #BoycottIPL from their oppoVivo phones be like:-#IPL2020 pic.twitter.com/it9H6XS3aq
— Rohit Pathak (@Being_Rohitp) August 2, 2020
#BoycottIPL is trending
Le Saurav Ganguly to those public be like:- pic.twitter.com/QRHWD7JGyt
— रचित M❤️ (@rachit1m) August 2, 2020
Big takeaways from the IPL GC meeting:
In addition to the decision on the sponsors, the IPL GC also approved the Women’s T20 Challenge – a three-team mini women’s IPL which will be played in the UAE between November 1 and 10. As far as timing of the games are concerned, all evening matches will start at 7:30 pm IST while afternoon matches will begin from 3:30 pm IST. There are 10 double headers in IPL 2020.
Each team will be allowed to have maximum of 24 players in their squad. The franchises have also been allowed Covid-19 replacements. If a player is unwell due to the novel coronavirus, he can be replaced during the course of the tournament.