Cola row not to hit cricket series

Coca-Cola and Pepsi said on Friday they had not received any order from the Kerala government to stop production in the state and sought to clear the air over Pepsi's co-sponsorship of the upcoming Champions Trophy cricket tournament.

Of the 20 matches in the ICC Champions Trophy to be played in October, 11 are scheduled to be held in two states that have issued advisories. There are six matches in Jaipur -- including the final -- and five in Ahmedabad.

Sources close to the cola firms claim that the 'ban' does not mean that colas will not be served in the stadiums. "The question does not arise.

The advisory is only applicable to government schools and offices," said one. The two companies declined to comment when asked what their marketing plans could be for the Champions Trophy.

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While

the Kerala chief minister has gone on record saying he would ban production of colas, the two companies are claiming that they learnt of this development only through media reports. Pepsi has one plant in the Kerala at Palakkad which is still operational.

Coke's plant in Kerala has not been operational for two years now on account of hindrances caused by the local authorities such as license issues with the panchayat.

The two cola companies are claiming that media reports of Pepsi and Coke being banned in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh are incorrect and misleading.

The two companies said these state governments have not banned, but issued advisories to government schools and offices.