Executive Committee member asks AIFF top brass to go slow over addition of new teams in I-League, IWL
Until its constitution is finalized, one of the All India Football Federation’s executive committee members, Valanka Alemao has requested to the AIFF president Kalyan Chaube through a letter to refrain from initiating for the addition of new teams in the I-League and Indian Women’s League, while also resisting the temptation of taking prior decisions before seeking approval from its executive committee according to a report from News9 Sports. “The last league committee meeting took place on 31st January, 2025. Direct entry into the I-League/lWL was on their agenda, but they decided that the ‘Discussion on pre-requisites for direct entry into leagues to be discussed in the upcoming meetings.’ Now this has never been made known to the EC Members at any point in time,” she wrote. “There have been very serious arguments made by various entities during the SC (Supreme Court) hearing calling for one league with a promotion/demotion structure on grounds of Sporting Merit. “Therefore, it would be prudent to wait for the new Constitution, which the SC will deliver to us, before taking this discussion forward. But this idea of having direct entries is put up for approval without even the draft being circulated,” she also pointed out the issue. Valanka Alemao has also given intimation to the AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey, requesting him not take prior decision about the direct entries of teams apart from instances where decisions have been taken in advance and placed before the executive committee for approval later. During the 2024-25 season, 12 teams competed in the I-League while eight participated in the IWL. With two teams expected to be relegated from both the leagues as per tournament regulations, the federation is keen on handing direct entries to new teams in these competitions. Though the idea faced rejection when placed before its league committee on 31st January, it didn’t dissuade the AIFF from abandoning the plan as it was put up for approval at its executive committee meeting on April 7. No decision was taken on the matter by the Executive Committee on 7th April, but it has prompted Valanka to point out that this practice is a deviation from the standard norms and protocols of the AIFF’s functioning and shouldn’t be encouraged further. A draft constitution, prepared by former judge L Nageswara Rao, has already been submitted in the Supreme Court, which has also completed the process of hearing arguments of all Indian football’s stakeholders and is poised to deliver a judgment once the proceedings resume after summer vacation on 14th July.
Harbhajan spins again; Convinces BCCI to organize IPL Play-Offs in Punjab
Harbhajan Singh, a former India international spinner and currently the Chief Advisor of Punjab Cricket Association, has spun once again to convince the IPL organizers to organize the IPL’s forthcoming Play-Offs in Punjab. The initiative came from Harbhajan after the news of the IPL Play-Offs’ venues shifting from Hyderabad and Kolkata to New Chandigarh and Ahmedabad. According to sources close to BCCI, a report from a leading national daily revealed that Harbhajan Singh played a huge role in shifting the fixtures to Punjab. He reportedly took pains to convince the top brass of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of the stadium’s suitability to host the matches in the present weather conditions. “Harbhajan pushed hard for it. He convinced key decision-makers that New Chandigarh is ready, both in terms of facilities and audience enthusiasm. He wasn’t just lobbying; he was deeply involved in inspection visits, pitch discussions, and logistical planning,” confirmed a source to IANS. Harbhajan, the Chief Cricketing Advisor of the Punjab Cricket Association, has been actively promoting cricket in the region post-retirement and has always voiced concerns about the lack of international and IPL-level matches in Punjab after Mohali’s decline as a regular host venue. With the successful completion of the stadium in Mullanpur, he saw an opportunity to bring elite-level cricket back to the heartland. The BCCI announced the schedule for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 Playoffs on Tuesday. After 70 action-packed league-stage matches, the spotlight will shift to the New PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh as it gears up to host the much-awaited Qualifier 1 – featuring the top two-ranked sides on May 29, followed by an engrossing Eliminator clash on May 30. Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, the world’s largest cricket stadium in the world will host an electrifying Qualifier 2 and the grand Final. Qualifier 2, to be played between the loser of Qualifier 1 and the winner of the Eliminator, will take place on June 1. The highly anticipated summit clash is set to be played on June 3. The new venues for the Playoffs were decided by the IPL Governing Council, keeping in mind the weather conditions and other parameters.
