MUMBAI—
In response to Pune Warriors India and Kochi Tuskers Kerala’s complaints that they have lost approximately 25% of expected revenue owing to a reduction in the number of games played in the IPL, the governing council decided to increase the number of games by four in next year’s edition.
In addition to the playoffs for the top four spots in the competition, there will be play-offs for the wooden spoon.
The last two teams contest the first qualifier. The seventh and eighth teams also fight it out in an Eliminator. The loser of the first qualifier automatically qualifies for the Wooden Cup final. The winner of Qualifier 1 and the loser of the Eliminator will slug it out in a second Qualifier.
The loser of Qualifier 2 plays the loser of Qualifier 1 in a grand finale.
This ensures that every team has an equal opportunity and that consistency is truly rewarded.
The teams finishing seventh and eighth will be rewarded by having next year’s Wooden Spoon playoffs at their home venues.
This is an an added incentive for teams to do well throughout the IPL.
It ensures that teams that have virtually no stake in the remainder of the tournament give off their best in the remaining games. Not finishing last will be the primary motivational factor.
The accruing financial rewards are secondary motives.
Lalit Modi, in a sudden volte-face, has hailed the proposal on Twitter saying “It’s more than fair.”
Sanjay Dixit, in his response, has apologised for calling the former IPL commissioner “a bloody fugitive.” He tweeted, “All is forgiven.Baby, come back.”
Shane Warne tweeted, “Now, if only they had thought of this earlier. Four more games at the IPL with you, cuddly lips.”
(The character(s) in this story are real. The facts and “quotes” are not. But you knew that already, didn’t you?)
Quote of the day:
It is not bigotry to be certain we are right; but it is bigotry to be unable to imagine how we might possibly have gone wrong. – G. K. Chesterton
Make Time For Sports. 
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