CSK fans run a signature campaign and hand over signed petitions to IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla

Fans signing

A group of die-hard fans got together in an attempt, to save team Chennai Super Kings (CSK) from suspension/ban. The #SaveCSK Signature campaign happened near the Pattabhiram gate of M.A. Chidambaram stadium on Saturday 1st Aug led by H. Saravanan (Twitter @cricsuperfan), a prominent fan who was seen sporting yellow paint during the team’s Indian Premier League (IPL) matches many a times. The signature campaign received 13,000 signatures in 3 days.

The signed petitions were organized into Bound Books, with 1000 signs each and the books were carried by a group of 10 fans who traveled to Mumbai representing the CSK fans.

On Saturday 8th Aug, while the BCCI Working committee were meeting Franchise owners and sponsors in a Hotel in Bandra, the fans gathered outside with an attempt to somehow handover and convey these petitions.

After a long wait from Morning, one of the representative Prabhu, also an ardent Team India fan ( Twitter @cricprabhu ) went inside the hotel with the petitions. While he approached Sourav Ganguly, who had come to the meeting, he instructed to hand it over to BCCI. Later when Rajeev Shukla, Chairman of IPL, came out of the meeting, Prabhu handed over the 13,000 signed petitions and explained about the fan representatives who were waiting outside. After meeting the Media who were waiting outside, the IPL Chairman was very receptive and spent a minute to interact with Saravanan and other fans who were waiting outside since morning.

Though there are reports that their team may be Terminated or Suspended, the fans are confident that BCCI and Honorable Supreme Court, will consider Fans request. As like any Sport, Fans are an integral part and for IPL, no doubt that CSK have been very instrumental for the growth. CSK games are the most sold out games at every venue and Chepauk has been a sellout for all the CSK games. Chennai Fans love the sport more than any other cricketing venues in India. They seem to connect with their franchise as a part of Family and don't want to be punished. They want BCCI and Hon.SC to consider that the Sport is for the fans and for a mistake which happened outside the field by an individual, the players, team, fans and our Family not be shattered.

Fans Quoted “While we leave the legal aspects and decisions to BCCI, we want to be heard that Fans want CSK. Fans want the same players Don the yellow jersey and play in Chepauk. Hence we wanted to put the message across to BCCI and Hon. SC that we want to see CSK on field coming IPL”.