MUMBAI: Sahara India Pariwar, a major business conglomerate and the owner of IPL team Pune Warriors, has taken for an undisclosed amount the Lucknow franchise of the ?Hockey India League? (HIL), the franchise-based Hockey league started by Hockey India.

Hockey India, the official body of the sport in India, is launching its own franchise-based league to rival World Series Hockey which is co-promoted by Indian Hockey Federation and Harish Thawani?s Nimbus Sport.

Sahara India chairman Subrata Roy Sahara said, ?By taking up this franchise we are sure that fresh talent will be identified at city and regional level, who in turn will bring laurels to our beloved nation. We are also hopeful, that following our efforts to encourage Hockey, other corporate entities will also come forward to support this league which will eventually benefit the game and its exponents."

The HIL will initially comprise six teams who will play each other on home and away basis. The league is expected to debut in January next year with the International Hockey Federation giving it a one month window from 1-30 January to ensure the participation of top foreign players.

The HIL will have six city-based teams selected from a pool of 12 cities that have infrastructure and facilities to host a match.

The six teams can have a maximum of 24 players in their squad with six Indian and foreign marquee players each. HI has fixed the salary cap at Rs 30 million with players divided into four slabs selected through IPL style auction in September.

Hockey India Secretary General Narendra Batra said, ?I am grateful to ?Saharasri? and Sahara India Pariwar, for again coming forward in support of Hockey. The Group has always come forward and supported the sport of hockey at all times by providing it the much needed support.?

Apart from being sponsor to the Indian Hockey Team, Sahara India Pariwar had also joined hands with Federation Internationale De Hockey (FIH) in 2004, the World?s apex Body for Hockey, and became the fourth Global Partner of the Federation for a period of three years.

HI will work with its exclusive marketing partner Twenty First Century Media to launch the league. TCM is responsible for handling sponsorship, media rights and getting franchises on board for the league.

Earlier, Sahara had renewed its sponsorship deal with HI forking out Rs 400 million over a five-year period.

MUMBAI: The IPL Governing Council has ratified the issues it had discussed with Sahara as part of the compromise formula it had arrived at with the business conglomerate.

On the contentious issue of allowing five players for this season, the Council has asked Pune Warriors India to get the consent of all the franchises.

"On the five foreign players issue, Sahara has to get the consent of all other franchises and that matter will be put before the working committee, which will take the final call,? IPL GC chairman Rajeev Shukla said after the meeting.

He further added, "All the things which were decided with Sahara were ratified by the Governing Council.?

The dates for season 6 of the IPL has been finalised and the tournament will be held next year from 3 April to 26 May.

Queried on whether the IPL will have the 10th team in season 6, Shukla said ?nothing has been finalised?.

The BCCI had on 16 February reached a compromise formula with Sahara wherein it allowed the franchise to sign up overseas players who were not in the auction register and to play five foreign players in their side due to unavailability of Yuvraj Singh, subject to approval of the other franchises.

BCCI and Sahara had also agreed to start the arbitration proceedings initiated by Sahara through appointment of an arbitrator to address Sahara?s claim for a reduction in franchise fee.

MUMBAI: IPL?s franchise from Pune, Pune Warriors, has retained Sourav Ganguly, who was included in last year?s squad as an injury replacement.

Pune Warriors director Abhijit Sarkar said, "We are privileged to have a player of Sourav Ganguly?s calibre in our squad. He has been one of India?s greatest and most inspirational cricketers. We have no doubt that his presence in the team will boost the team?s prospects in the IPL, and motivate the boys to excel themselves."

Ganguly has played with Shah Rukh Khan?s Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL?s first three editions. Last year, he signed up with Pune Warriors after the start of the 2011 edition of the tournament.

Kings XI Punjab has signed David Miller, the middle-order batsman from South Africa, for the next two seasons.