Baseline Ventures had recently announced that the second edition of the Pro Volleyball League (PVL) would be held from February 7, 2020. However, it looks unlikely that the tournament will happen as per the schedule now.
Speaking to The Hindu/Sportstar on Wednesday, Ramavtar Jakhar, secretary of Volleyball Federation of India (VFI), said the “entire Volleyball Federation of India was taken by surprise” by the announcement of Baseline Ventures. The dates (Feb. 7), he claimed, was made without consulting VFI.
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Jakhar said VFI has planned the National events in February-March: National junior championships followed by Federation Cup and the Youth (u-21) Nationals.
“With a host of events, the PVL looks doubtful. But everything will be decided at the VFI’s Annual General Body Meeting which will be held in November,” informed Jakhar. “Yes, I made the announcement that PVL will be held in February during the Federation Cup in Amritsar [early this month]. But that was my own opinion.”
But the VFI Secretary assured that PVL would be held in the year 2020 “with or without Baseline Ventures.”
Reacting to the developments, Joy Bhattacharjya, CEO OF PVL, said: “We are committed to doing the league, have fulfilled all our financial and other commitments. And we have been asking for dates for the second edition since March 11. This year, if the VFI Secretary has any issues he needs to put them down officially. If we do not get the dates in the next few days, the next season is in danger.”
Meanwhile, the Indian team’s foreign coach Dragan Mihailovic (Serbia) has left the country after his five-month contract expired this month. Though there were conflicting news about his exit--one suggesting that he had an altercation with Jakhar during the Asian men’s championship--VFI squashed it. “He (Dragan) left on cordial terms. We shared a good relationship,” said Jakhar.
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