Date:08/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/08/stories/2008040860570100.htm

Front Page

Media norms for IPL matches relaxed

Special Correspondent

MUMBAI: The DLF-Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman and commissioner, Lalit Modi, the Sports Journalists’ Federation of India (SJFI) and sports editors of mainline dailies on Monday thrashed out issues related to media accreditation for the Twenty20 championship starting on April 18 in Bangalore.

Last week, the IPL announced the media guidelines for accreditation which a large section of the media houses found it unacceptable. The SJFI, on behalf of sports journalists and photographers, requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sharad Pawar to resolve the contentious clauses.

The IPL has revised the 13-page terms and conditions to two pages. The SJFI officials and sports editors deliberated the matter for six hours before meeting Mr. Modi.

After hearing the sports journalists’ point of view, Mr. Modi agreed to relax rules considerably for the benefit of the print media. “The IPL and representatives of the SJFI have come to a broad understanding on the issues related to the accreditation. Now that the matter is solved, the print media should apply for accreditation,” Mr. Modi told a press conference.