Kochi Tuskers Kerala: Sreesanth Reveals Unpaid Dues and Franchise Termination
Former Indian fast bowler Sreesanth has shed light on the financial turmoil that plagued the Kochi Tuskers Kerala franchise during its brief tenure in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The team, which featured a star-studded lineup including Brendon McCullum, Mahela Jayawardene, and Ravindra Jadeja, was terminated after just one season in 2011 for breaching the terms of its agreement.
According to Sreesanth, the Kerala franchise has yet to settle the outstanding payments owed to the players who represented the team. “They have to pay a lot of money,” he said. “They still haven’t. You should get Muralitharan sir (Muttiah Muralitharan), you should get Mahela (Mahela Jayawardene) and in your show they will only tell you. McCullum was also there, and Jadeja.”
Sreesanth revealed that the franchise was initially intended to participate in the league for three seasons. However, after their inaugural campaign in 2011, the team faced suspension due to financial irregularities.
The pacer expressed frustration that the players associated with the Kochi franchise have refrained from publicly discussing the team’s failure to settle their outstanding payments. “Please guys, BCCI has literally paid you, I think. Please pay us…anyway whenever you’re paying, remember the 18% interest every year. I feel by the time my kid gets married, we will definitely receive the money (laughs). The team was supposed to be for three years, and the team got terminated in the first year. I think no one has spoken about it. Even now when the players meet, they talk about it,” he said.
The Kochi Tuskers Kerala saga highlights the importance of financial stability and transparency in professional sports. The franchise’s failure to fulfill its financial obligations to its players has left a lasting impact on those involved and serves as a cautionary tale for future franchise owners.
