The match-fixing row, a superstar brawl and a molestation charge – off-the-field googlies are hitting the Indian Premier League brand pretty hard. But chairman of the IPL, Rajeev Shukla, says it’s still the biggest brand that has grown each year since its inception. He tells Indranil Basu that all these controversies have not disturbed the integrity of the game.

There are MPs who are in favour of banning IPL. How do you counter them?
Those MPs are my friends and colleagues in Parliament and they have a right to their opinions. IPL remains the biggest Indian brand and will continue to grow in years to come.

How do you counter the negativity surrounding the IPL? The match-fixing row, a brawl and now a molestation charge…
IPL is a big show but these things are certainly disappointing. But we have taken every possible step to ensure that IPL is clean. We have been prompt in taking action. The ‘sting operation’ that happened was promptly dealt with and the governing council decided to ban the cricketers from taking part in IPL matches. In no time, we appointed a commissioner, who has already worked with ICC’s anti-corruption unit, to address the allegations. He will take a step after talking to both the concerned parties. As far as the Wankhede brawl is concerned, BCCI president N Srinivsan will have the final say. He will take the version of the Mumbai Cricket Association and the franchisee before giving a final verdict.

Regarding the molestation case, the police are doing their job. If the cricketer is found guilty, action will be taken. The incident was not connected with an official IPL party. In fact, there are no official IPL parties. And if a player gets into some ugly incident, you can’t blame IPL. The league can’t be held responsible for all the untoward incidents off the field. If some individual does something in his individual capacity, that too in a hotel room, IPL has nothing to do with it. It’s a police case and we will wait for the police report. We also need to take the version of the cricketer before deciding his fate.

Are you happy with the way IPL has gone so far?
Of course, the quality of the game has been superb. We have several last-over finishes, the spectators are happy, the team owners are happy and even the sponsors are happy. Obviously, there are a few who are unhappy. I urge them not be vicious and support the game of cricket, which IPL is producing. It has a massive following and we should all acknowledge the stuff happening on the field. All the controversies that have happened are off-field events; let’s not spoil the image of IPL because of such incidents.

Have you spoken to Shahrukh Khan?
I have spoken to him and taken his side of the version. As of now, I wouldn’t like to comment anything more. Remember this brawl could have happened anywhere. But since the incident happened on the cricket field, that too after an IPL tie, it’s been linked to the league.

What about the fixing claims?
If someone can come up with evidence, we will surely investigate the incident. But IPL-5 has been the most enthralling experience for everyone. Even the previous IPLs have been clean and there is no evidence to suggest anything negative. This year, the venues are jam-packed with fans, the viewership on TV and internet are growing every year. Even after reaching the fag end of the league phase, we don’t know the exact line-up for the play-offs. Besides, ICC’s anti-corruption unit is also officiating in the tournament.

Do you think IPL is destroying the generation of Test cricketers?
IPL bashing has become a fashion! Whatever goes wrong, IPL is there to be blamed. There was a time when only 15-20 cricketers used to get picked for India. Now with the help of IPL, we are able to see more than 200 Indian talents on the field. It’s helping Indian cricket in several ways and will continue to boost the standard of the game.

Some of the teams have suggested that there should be an auction for all domestic cricketers. What is your take on this?
I am no one to decide that. The governing council will take such suggestions when the time comes.

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The match-fixing row, a superstar brawl and a molestation charge – off-the-field googlies are hitting the Indian Premier League brand pretty hard. But chairman of the IPL, Rajeev Shukla, says it’s still the biggest brand that has grown each year since its inception. He tells Indranil Basu that all these controversies have not disturbed the integrity of the game.

There are MPs who are in favour of banning IPL. How do you counter them?
Those MPs are my friends and colleagues in Parliament and they have a right to their opinions. IPL remains the biggest Indian brand and will continue to grow in years to come.

How do you counter the negativity surrounding the IPL? The match-fixing row, a brawl and now a molestation charge…
IPL is a big show but these things are certainly disappointing. But we have taken every possible step to ensure that IPL is clean. We have been prompt in taking action. The ‘sting operation’ that happened was promptly dealt with and the governing council decided to ban the cricketers from taking part in IPL matches. In no time, we appointed a commissioner, who has already worked with ICC’s anti-corruption unit, to address the allegations. He will take a step after talking to both the concerned parties. As far as the Wankhede brawl is concerned, BCCI president N Srinivsan will have the final say. He will take the version of the Mumbai Cricket Association and the franchisee before giving a final verdict.

Regarding the molestation case, the police are doing their job. If the cricketer is found guilty, action will be taken. The incident was not connected with an official IPL party. In fact, there are no official IPL parties. And if a player gets into some ugly incident, you can’t blame IPL. The league can’t be held responsible for all the untoward incidents off the field. If some individual does something in his individual capacity, that too in a hotel room, IPL has nothing to do with it. It’s a police case and we will wait for the police report. We also need to take the version of the cricketer before deciding his fate.

Are you happy with the way IPL has gone so far?
Of course, the quality of the game has been superb. We have several last-over finishes, the spectators are happy, the team owners are happy and even the sponsors are happy. Obviously, there are a few who are unhappy. I urge them not be vicious and support the game of cricket, which IPL is producing. It has a massive following and we should all acknowledge the stuff happening on the field. All the controversies that have happened are off-field events; let’s not spoil the image of IPL because of such incidents.

Have you spoken to Shahrukh Khan?
I have spoken to him and taken his side of the version. As of now, I wouldn’t like to comment anything more. Remember this brawl could have happened anywhere. But since the incident happened on the cricket field, that too after an IPL tie, it’s been linked to the league.

What about the fixing claims?
If someone can come up with evidence, we will surely investigate the incident. But IPL-5 has been the most enthralling experience for everyone. Even the previous IPLs have been clean and there is no evidence to suggest anything negative. This year, the venues are jam-packed with fans, the viewership on TV and internet are growing every year. Even after reaching the fag end of the league phase, we don’t know the exact line-up for the play-offs. Besides, ICC’s anti-corruption unit is also officiating in the tournament.

Do you think IPL is destroying the generation of Test cricketers?
IPL bashing has become a fashion! Whatever goes wrong, IPL is there to be blamed. There was a time when only 15-20 cricketers used to get picked for India. Now with the help of IPL, we are able to see more than 200 Indian talents on the field. It’s helping Indian cricket in several ways and will continue to boost the standard of the game.

Some of the teams have suggested that there should be an auction for all domestic cricketers. What is your take on this?
I am no one to decide that. The governing council will take such suggestions when the time comes.

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NEW DELHI: With the mammoth aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya slated to reach Indian shores early next year, the government is finally scrambling to launch the long-delayed expansion of the strategic Karwar naval base in coastal Karnataka at a cost of around Rs 13,000 crore.

The Phase-IIA expansion of Karwar base, which gives the country both strategic depth and operational flexibility on the western seaboard, is being sent to the Cabinet Committee on Security for the final nod after defence minister A K Antony approved it last week, sources said.

Defence secretary Shashikant Sharma also visited Karwar recently to take a look at the naval base, which can currently base 11 major warships and 10 smaller ships after Phase-I completion at a cost of Rs 2,629 crore.

Navy will be able to berth 32 major warships and submarines, and various other ships, including 10 of the 80 fast-interceptor craft (FICs), to be acquired for coastal security force Sagar Prahari Bal, after Phase-IIA is completed by 2018-19.

INS Vikramaditya, or the 44,570-tonne Admiral Gorshkov being refitted by Russia for $2.33 billion, will be inducted much before that. With the congested Mumbai harbour not capable of handling INS Vikramaditya, some warships may have to be shifted out from Karwar to accommodate the carrier.

The six Scorpene submarines, being built at Mazagon Docks for Rs 23,562 crore and slated for induction in the 2015-2020 timeframe, will also be housed at Karwar. With its natural cover and depth of water, the base is ideal for stealthy submarine operations.

Karwar is India’s third major naval base after Mumbai and Visakhapatnam on the west coast, while Pakistan has five at Gwadar, Ormara, Karachi, Pasni and Jiwani.

Under Phase-IIA, Karwar will get an airbase, armament depot, dockyard complex and missile silos, apart from additional jetties, berthing and anchorage facilities. The eventual aim is to base 50 frontline warships at Karwar after Phase-IIB is completed.

This is critical for strategic needs since the Navy is steaming ahead on its modernization path with 44 warships, six Scorpene submarines, 95 FICs and 106 smaller ships like barges, tugs and vessels already on order.

In tune with the “maritime capability perspective plan”, another 45 warships are in the pipeline. These include six stealth submarines, seven stealth frigates, 16 coastal anti-submarine vessels, four massive landing platform docks and eight mine counter-measure vessels.

Overall, as first reported by TOI, Navy’s ongoing conventional warship, submarine and maritime aircraft acquisition programme as well as proposed projects will together cost well over Rs 3,00,000 crore over the next 15 years.

On the strategic front, Navy plans to have three SSBNs (nuclear-powered submarines with long-range nuclear missiles) and six SSNs (nuclear-powered attack submarines) in the long term. The first SSBN INS Arihant will become operational in first half of 2013.

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NEW DELHI: With the mammoth aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya slated to reach Indian shores early next year, the government is finally scrambling to launch the long-delayed expansion of the strategic Karwar naval base in coastal Karnataka at a cost of around Rs 13,000 crore.

The Phase-IIA expansion of Karwar base, which gives the country both strategic depth and operational flexibility on the western seaboard, is being sent to the Cabinet Committee on Security for the final nod after defence minister A K Antony approved it last week, sources said.

Defence secretary Shashikant Sharma also visited Karwar recently to take a look at the naval base, which can currently base 11 major warships and 10 smaller ships after Phase-I completion at a cost of Rs 2,629 crore.

Navy will be able to berth 32 major warships and submarines, and various other ships, including 10 of the 80 fast-interceptor craft (FICs), to be acquired for coastal security force Sagar Prahari Bal, after Phase-IIA is completed by 2018-19.

INS Vikramaditya, or the 44,570-tonne Admiral Gorshkov being refitted by Russia for $2.33 billion, will be inducted much before that. With the congested Mumbai harbour not capable of handling INS Vikramaditya, some warships may have to be shifted out from Karwar to accommodate the carrier.

The six Scorpene submarines, being built at Mazagon Docks for Rs 23,562 crore and slated for induction in the 2015-2020 timeframe, will also be housed at Karwar. With its natural cover and depth of water, the base is ideal for stealthy submarine operations.

Karwar is India’s third major naval base after Mumbai and Visakhapatnam on the west coast, while Pakistan has five at Gwadar, Ormara, Karachi, Pasni and Jiwani.

Under Phase-IIA, Karwar will get an airbase, armament depot, dockyard complex and missile silos, apart from additional jetties, berthing and anchorage facilities. The eventual aim is to base 50 frontline warships at Karwar after Phase-IIB is completed.

This is critical for strategic needs since the Navy is steaming ahead on its modernization path with 44 warships, six Scorpene submarines, 95 FICs and 106 smaller ships like barges, tugs and vessels already on order.

In tune with the “maritime capability perspective plan”, another 45 warships are in the pipeline. These include six stealth submarines, seven stealth frigates, 16 coastal anti-submarine vessels, four massive landing platform docks and eight mine counter-measure vessels.

Overall, as first reported by TOI, Navy’s ongoing conventional warship, submarine and maritime aircraft acquisition programme as well as proposed projects will together cost well over Rs 3,00,000 crore over the next 15 years.

On the strategic front, Navy plans to have three SSBNs (nuclear-powered submarines with long-range nuclear missiles) and six SSNs (nuclear-powered attack submarines) in the long term. The first SSBN INS Arihant will become operational in first half of 2013.

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