What prompted Pawar to intervene

Former Cricket Board chief Sharad Pawar's intervention in the BCCI's dispute with International Management Group had come after Mumbai Indians' franchise owner and Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani wrote to him on the matter.

Praising IMG's role in the success of the IPL, Ambani requested Pawar to intervene in the matter and facilitate in making the Twenty20 League the most successful sporting brand in the world.

Ambani wrote to Pawar on August 29 that it would be "incredibly short-sighted if we treat a demonstrably committed and capable partner like IMG in such an abrupt manner," adding the credibility of IPL stakeholders was at stake if "we treat our most significant partner, to date, in such a fashion."

"Can I take the liberty of seeking your personal intervention to facilitate this (settling the dispute), so that all stakeholders in the IPL - BCCI, Franchisees and IMG - continue to build on the initial success and make IPL the most successful sporting brand," he concluded his letter to Pawar.

Prompted by this letter, Pawar shot off a missive to BCCI President Shashank Manohar the next day saying the termination of IMG's services by the Board was disturbing and this "unilateral" move would put the BCCI in "jeopardy."

"Not only this will lead to a prolonged legal battle but it will also show us in bad light in public," Pawar wrote to Manohar, in his capacity as the president of the Mumbai Cricket Association.

Following this multi-pronged attack from all the eight franchisees except the Chennai one owned by BCCI secretary N Srinivasan against the decision to snap ties with IMG in future, the IPL Governing Council today authorised Manohar to resolve the issue with the sports management firm. 

The BCCI President will report back to the Board's AGM on the matter scheduled in Mumbai on September 24, it was decided at the IPL meeting on Wednesday. 

Last week the BCCI had snapped its ties with IMG, claiming the sports management firm was overcharging the Board for providing its services to conduct Indian Premier League. 

IMG received close to Rs 43 crore for the inaugural edition of the IPL, held in 2008 and is set to receive Rs 33  crore for this year's IPL-II staged in South Africa.