Brad Hodge asks BCCI to pay compensation for players who represented Kochi Tuskers Kerela

Hodge was the coach of new franchise Gujarat Lions (GL) in IPL 2016 and made them reach the playoffs.

Gujarat Lions (GL) coach and Australia’s Brad Hodge has requested compensation for the players who had represented Kochi Tuskers Kerala (KTK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Following BCCI’s decision to reimburse Indian seamer Mohammed Shami, the 41-year-old took to social media platform, Twitter and asked for a similar option to members of the now defunct franchise. KTK had featured in the fourth edition of the cash-rich tournament but never participated in the tournament in any further editions. Hodge was in the limelight during IPL 2016 as his new franchise, GL made it to the playoffs in their maiden edition under his coaching skills and Suresh Raina’s leadership. ALSO READ: Brad Hodge: Hopeful of being competitive and strong in T20 circuit

I see Mohammed shami got compensated for injury during @IPL in 2015 from @BCCI . Any chance they can compensate the kochi tuskers players

— Brad Hodge (@bradhodge007) July 11, 2016

According to sportskeeda.com, BCCI had paid a huge sum as compensation to Shami citing “loss of pay for IPL season 2015 due to injury.” The pace bowler was sidelined from the 2015 edition of the IPL due to a knee injury which he picked up during the Adelaide Test in India’s tour of Australia 2014-15. However, he played through the World Cup by braving the pain and was instrumental in India reaching the semi-finals.

KTK made their debut in the 2011 edition of the IPL and finished eighth among ten teams. However, they were terminated on September 19 on account of failure to provide the necessary bank guarantee to cover annual fee. ALSO READ: Brad Hodge’s retirement – The tale of modern mercenary

Hodge was the leading run scorer for the club with 285 runs from 14 matches. Some of his leading team-mates include skipper Mahela Jayawardene, VVS Laxman, Brendon McCullum, Ravindra Jadeja and Muttiah Muralitharan.

Following KTK’s termination, the squad members were placed on auction for the subsequent season. Hodge went to Rajasthan Royals in the 2012 auction. Those who went unsold had their salaries drawn from the team’s bank guarantee for the preceding season. BCCI even suggested the overseas players to sue KTK on January 2012.

After a long legal battle, KTK finally got some relief when BCCI gave a handsome sum to the franchise for being terminated. There were murmurs amidst senior board officials to allow the club to make a way back into the league but no concrete developments took place.