The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) held an emergent Apex Council meeting on Monday (December 9), where Byju’s request to wriggle out of the Indian team’s jersey sponsorship and Star Sports’ letter for course correction on the rights value were the main points of discussion. Cricbuzz learns that decisions on both issues were deferred but the board might come to some sort of understanding with the two stakeholders.

The Star issue, it is learnt, is a matter of over Rs 180 crores (exact figure is still to be ascertained) in the fee structure for international games, with the regulator (the BCCI) and broadcaster (Star) differing over applicability of the original Media Rights Agreement (MRA). More specifically, it is about a postponed series against South Africa in which the BCCI wants the application of the current rate while Star insists that the old rates be applied.

As per the five-year MRA signed in 2018, the overall value of an international game was about INR 60 crore per match on an average but in the fine print Star was required to pay INR 46 crore per game in the first year, INR 47 crore in the second year, INR 46.5 crore in the third year, INR 77.4 crore in the fourth year and INR 78.9 crore in the fifth and final year.

In contention between the parties is a six-match white ball series against South Africa which was postponed due to Covid in the beginning of 2020, which would have been third year in the MRA. The matches were played last year – in September and October 2022 — which would be the last year in the agreement. The BCCI is understood to have billed the fee as per the last year’s rate (Rs 78.9) and Star wants the value to be counted as per third year’s price (Rs 46.5). At the Apex Council meeting, held virtually, the issue was discussed and a decision was deferred. It is likely the parties will come to an agreement.

Meanwhile on the topic of Byju’s, the BCCI may go ahead and en-cash the bank guarantee which is in its possession. The Edtech company, which has been in news for wrong reasons of late, apparently wants to exit from its sponsorship agreement to avoid too much visibility of its brand. Byju’s contract remains till November 2023 but the BCCI is believed to have requested the company to stay on till March 31 when the new cycle of sponsorships will kick in.

Killer brand replaces MPL

In another related development, Kewal Kiran Clothing Limited (KKCL or Killer), an apparel manufacturing company, has replaced MPL as the kit sponsor of the Indian team. The change has come with immediate effect as MPL, an e-sports platform, has exited from the deal which was till December this year. MPL was paying Rs 65 lakh per game and the transfer of rights may not be in entirety. KKCL’s fee could be a little less as MPL is believed to have paid Spo part of its liability.