Internet Desk: Bollywood Badshah Shah Rukh Khan is likely to have a team in Indian Super League (ISL). If things go according to plans, Indian football could see a sea change starting from 2017-18 season. The much debated ISL-I League merger will see a 10 team affair. ISL franchise Atletico de Kolkata will merge with either Mohun Bagan or East Bengal while Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kolkata Knight Riders owner Shah Rukh Khan likely to have another team from the city. The tenth team in the league will be I League champions Bengaluru FC.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is looking to finalize the roadmap for the ISL-I-league merger in the next few months for a possible 2017-18 start. Kolkata giants East Bengal could well make an entry into the top league that will feature all ISL franchises besides I-league champions Bengaluru FC and runners-up Mohun Bagan.
Mohun Bagan or East Bengal is likely to get merged with Atletico de Kolkata while Bollywood superstar will also have a team in ISL. The choice to decide which club they want to tie-up with will remain with Atletico. Shah Rukh is likely to have a stake with the other Kolkata giant who will not join Atletico.
“I have also heard about Shah Rukh having a team,” AIFF general secretary Kushal Das told xtratime.in
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has been dragging its feet on the ISL-I-league merger in trying to find an amicable solution for all stakeholders. The delay has seen several I-league clubs withdraw from the competition, including stalwart Salgaocar from the the next season, citing lack of clarity in the way forward.
However, it appears that the AIFF is likely to finalize everything by Feb-March next year and launch the new format in 2017-18.
“We are most likely to have 10-11 teams. The discussions have been going on for quite some time. We are hopeful of having a blueprint by February next year,” added Kushal Das.
The proposed league could have about 10-11 teams with all the ISL teams included, while the I-league teams to make the cut are possibly current champions Bengaluru FC and runners-up Mohun Bagan, although East Bengal could sneak in as well.