MUMBAI, India, CMC – Indian business mogul Vijay Mallya says he is “studying the CPL economics” but has denied suggestions he is on the verge of purchasing Caribbean Premier League franchise Barbados Tridents.
Mallya, chairman of the UB Group which owns Indian Premier League franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore, told the Mumbai Mirror he had met with CPL officials but had not bought any interests in the Caribbean T20 domestic league.
He told the newspaper that until he “understood the CPL which is very different from the IPL”, he would not be engaging in any deal.
“I have not bought any CPL team. I am currently studying the CPL economics. I understand that the Barbados team is owned by CPL itself and is not a franchise,” Mallya told the Mumbai Mirror.
“I am categorically telling [you] that I have not done any deal. I met the CPL organizers to understand the model. Just because I am studying the model, all kinds of rumours spark off.”
Pete Russell, the CPL’s chief operation officer, confirmed talks with Mallya but also indicated no deal had been done for a franchise.
“He spoke to us a year ago. We then had a couple of conversations with him,” the Mirror quoted Russell as saying.
“We have a few other options … and it is likely it will be someone else but we would love to have Mr Mallya on board.”
Tridents are one of the leading franchises in the CPL, winning the title in 2014 and qualifying for the Champions League Twenty20 in India.
They were also good enough to reach the final of the 2015 edition where they eventually lost to Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel.
Tridents boasts the likes of IPL stars Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Smith, along with West Indies Test and one-day captain Jason Holder.
The CPL has already attracted Indian business interest with Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan taking over control of Red Steel last season.
Mallya already has significant interests in several sports entities. He is part of a consortium which owns Formula One team Force India and his UB Group also owns Indian “I-League” professional football clubs Mohun Bagan and East Bengal.
The UB Group is a multibillion-dollar company based in Bangalore, and is India’s largest beer producer.
