Kochi players` interest will be protected: Shukla

Hyderabad: The IPL Governing Council is yet to work out a plan to help the players left in lurch after Kochi`s axing but the league`s boss Rajiv Shukla on Thursday assured that the interest of the affected players will be protected.

"We will decide on that in the next Governing Council meeting, Kochi players or others. But we will fully protect the interest of the players," he told reporters after a meeting of the Governing Council. The Kochi franchise has been scrapped for breach of contractual obligations. Asked about Pakistani players` participation in the league, he said the issue was not discussed in the meeting today. "Pakistan was not on the agenda," he said. The Pakistani cricketers have not participated in the IPL since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Talking about the format of the cash-rich Twenty20 event, Shukla said any changes would be discussed in the next Governing Council meeting. "Format will be worked out when the managements explore the options. It will be discussed in the Governing Council meeting which will be held soon," he said. Shukla also refuted suggestions that the IPL had added to the player fatigue. "We have three formats. There are very few common players. There is no fatigue in common players. To avoid fatigue, we said there should be proper coordination between physio and trainer", Shukla said. "We will talk to the franchises to reduce the participation of players in parties that are held on the eve of matches. So that the players get rest. But, if you say that there is fatigue due to IPL, I don`t agree with that," he said. Asked about the request of Rajasthan players to shift the base from Jaipur to Ahmedabad, he said it is difficult. "Ahmedabad as a city bids separately. Governing Council is not ready for that," he said. The next meeting of the Governing Council will be held soon, Shukla added. PTI