Chennai, Feb 13 (PTI) The BCCI-Sahara standoff remained unresolved with the Indian Cricket Board's Working Committee rejecting some demands of the long-time sponsor, refusing to make "exceptions" for the company which will now have to decide its future in the IPL. After over three hours of deliberation at its Working Committee meeting, the BCCI said it has communicated its decisions with regards to Sahara's demands to the company and was hoping for a "favourable response". The BCCI also made it clear that while it could show some flexibility but it should not be expected to make exceptions for the corporate giant, which owns the costliest IPL team (Pune Warriors bought at Rs 1700 crore). "Issues that had to be decided were placed before the committee and we have conveyed the response from the working committee to Sahara and we hope the response would be favourable," BCCI President N Srinivasan told reporters after the meeting. The BCCI's stand, which is being interpreted as tough, will mean that the week-long stalemate will persist for some more time till Sahara decides its future course of action. Sahara, sponsor of the Indian team for over 11 years, decided to part ways with the BCCI on February 4, complaining that the Board did not give due consideration to its genuine grievances with regards to players and number of matches in the IPL. The decision to severe all ties with BCCI was taken just hours before the IPL auction got underway in Bangalore. Srinivasan refused to go into the specifics of Sahara's demands but made it clear that exceptions won't be made. "It is a matter which should be discussed between Sahara and BCCI behind closed doors. These are not issues which can be discussed in public," he said. MORE
