Disappointed with the "continuous harassment" that they've been facing because of the administration in the state, Rajasthan Royals were forced to try and shift their base to Guwahati from Jaipur for atleast some games of the upcoming edition of the IPL.
However, even that request has got the franchise into another complicated situation, as explained by top RR officials to TOI in a report on Saturday (February 1), two days after a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the Rajasthan High Court against the shifting of matches.
"Be it the state's sports council, under whose aegis the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) falls, the state machinery catering to law and order, the former officers of the RCA itself and political bigwigs in the state... they've all collectively given Rajasthan Royals nothing but trouble over the years. Plain harassment, that's what we've suffered," TOI quoted franchise officials as saying.
"Even a back-of-the-envelope math on their revenues in Jaipur will show how the franchise has been losing money."
Losses have also been made because of the demand for free tickets from the police or other state-backed authorities and the mandatory allotment of seats to RCA. "Look at the stadium. It's in such a bad state," the franchise representatives said. "The newly-elected body in RCA has just come in and they'll need time even if they're looking to correct things. The place has been a mess for quite some time now. Over the years, the RCA has failed to come up with good infrastructure anywhere outside of Jaipur."
"As it is, we've always been seen as the 'rogue' IPL franchise. We've always found ourselves in some kind of trouble or the other. Making it personal will only lead us on to that path again," an official said.
Guwahati could, hence, host a couple of Royals' seven home games this season. "It's a lovely ground," the official added. "Some of our leading players visited there and praised the venue. There's a strong Marwari presence in the northeast (Royals' fan-base in Rajasthan) and we feel welcome there. That's why we put in a request."
Royals have sought a short adjournment to the hearing to file a reply in the matter now listed for February 13 after three petitioners - Rahul Kanwat, Vimal Chand Choudhary and Yogesh Kumar - approached the HC bench in Jaipur last week with a PIL that shifting of matches outside Jaipur would be disrespectful to the state.
(Inputs from TOI)
