Sandeep Sarkar, Kolkata: Before the start of the Bengal T20 league, a storm of controversy in Bengal cricket. Arriva Sports Pvt Ltd has sent a legal notice against CAB seeking compensation of around Rs 70 crore for breaking the contract mid-way without complying with the rules. The organization was responsible for organizing the Bengal Pro T20 League for the first two years. However, CAB rejected the complaint. Sourav Gangopadhyay’s CAB filed a counter-charge against Arriva Sports Pvt Ltd for non-payment of expenses. CAB treasurer Sanjay Das informed that Arriva Sports Private Limited has been removed from the responsibility of organizing because the image of the organization is getting damaged.

Arriva Sports Private Limited sent a legal notice to CAB on May 8. In the notice they said that they have signed an agreement with CAB to organize the Bengal Pro T20 League on October 5, 2023. For two years they organized the Bengal Pro T20 League. Arriva Sports Pvt Ltd claims that CAB earned Tk 760 million in the first year and Tk 720 million in the second year – a total of Tk 1480 million in 2 years.

Arriva Sports Pvt Ltd said in a legal letter that CAB incurred a loss of around Rs 2.5 crore in the first two years due to various extra-contractual expenses. Nevertheless, they started the initiative to organize the third edition of the tournament. However, in a notification issued on March 11 this year, CAB said that the earlier agreement was terminated. The CAB cited JSW Sports Organization for organizing the tournament, displacing Arriva Sports Pvt. Arriva Sports Pvt. Ltd. claimed that CAB did not change its position even though they gave a legal reply on March 30. In all, they have a loss of 70 crore rupees. Arriva Sports Pvt Ltd said Sunidhi Chauhan’s event was held at Eden at the cost of Tk 3 crore in the opening ceremony last year, despite not being in the contract. They complained that they were supposed to sell tickets to the event with the CAB, but later the CAB allowed them to enter the ground for free. Arriva Sports alleged that they have lost a lot of money in this. So they have asked for a compensation of 70 crore rupees from CAB.

However, CAB Treasurer Sanjay Das dismissed all the allegations. He told ABP Live Bangla, ‘Corporate image has been damaged for Arriva Sports Pvt. They did not pay about 22-24 vendors. About 10-12 lakh rupees is left by the person in charge of catering at Jadavpur field in Salt Lake. In all, the outstanding amount is about three quarter crore rupees. None of the vendors is such a big company that will work with so much money left.’

Arriva Sports Private Limited was not asked to pay the money? Sanjay says, ‘It has been said many times. President Sourav also said. It has been said repeatedly in the meeting. They did not even promise to meet. So removed. Apart from that, they received almost all of the money due from the franchise fee. And we did not talk about Sunidhi Chauhan’s program. It is their decision. He also arranged to sell tickets. But no one showed interest in buying tickets on the district app. CAB has nothing to do here.’

A section of the CAB, however, is questioning why Arriva Sports Pvt Ltd was first cited to host the tournament without tendering. Why was the contract with the transparency of the tender day?