Deccan Chargers CEO claims he is no longer with team

Hyderabad's Deccan Chargers, the IPL team that finished last in the league's inaugural season, is facing an unexpected problem with its chief executive Tim Wright claiming that he is no longer with the franchise. However, a top official from DC Holdings Ltd, which owns the franchise, maintained that Wright is "very much a part" of the team.

Cricinfo received an SMS this evening from Wright, who was appointed CEO of the Deccan Chargers after the first IPL edition, which said, "I am writing to inform you I am no longer chief executive of Deccan Chargers. I do not propose to comment further at this time." When contacted in Sussex, Wright, a British national who is based in London, confirmed the text message but declined to comment further.

Meanwhile, PK Iyer, managing director of DC Holdings, told Cricinfo that "the news is wrong". "Tim Wright is very much a part of the team; we have not sacked him nor sought his removal," he said. However, Iyer confirmed Wright would not be present at the IPL auction in Goa on Friday.

According to DC officials, Wright is facing a visa problem that prevented him from coming to India but this has been vehemently denied by the chief executive himself. Clearly the Deccan Chargers and its chief executive are not on the same page and, apparently, differences have emerged between the two sides regarding Wright's role in the franchise.

Wright is a former IMG official who was involved with the IPL before moving to the Hyderabad franchise.