'Kumble allegations are false, Patel was never a part of FGI'

Former Karnataka Ranji player and Frontiers Group India (FGI) Director Carlton Saldanha today refuted KSCA President Anil Kumble's allegations and clarified that former secretary Brijesh Patel was never a part of the Sporting Frontiers.
"Patel was never a part of the Sporting Frontiers as has been alleged by Kumble and we have documentation to prove the same. Further we confirm that no impropriety was attached with the manner in which we were engaged by the KSCA," he said.
Saldanha said FGI was hired unanimously by the KSCA and the commercial value received was approved by the then incumbent managing Committee of the KSCA.

"It was a combination of a flat fee and a commission on sponsorship that Frontiers were contracted for by the KSCA," he said.
"KSCA was totally aware of the value that this league would generate. In fact the value of the fee to FGI, would drastically diminish in years 3, 4 and 5. However the league's momentum was arrested in the second year," he added.
Saldanha said the franchisees, prior to the auction in a 24 potential franchisee meet organised by the KSCA, were made to understand that the KPL was not solely about generating money, as a team owned franchise, but to be utilised as a vehicle to promote cricket and cricketers in the districts.

The KPL gathered enough momentum for three other state associations to encourage FGI to start such leagues in their respective states, he added.
Saldanha said the CEO of Sporting Frontiers (Australia) Neil Maxwell, who had a vision of consolidating the in-stadia advertising rights in India, made an offer to the KSCA, double the current market rate at that time, with an assurance of paying it the entire rights fee 30 days prior to the commencement of the game.
"This was an unprecedented offer made to a cricket association during that tenure. Frontiers went on to sign legally binding long-term contracts with 13 other state cricket associations in India," he said.