Businessman Vijay Mallya claimed that he paid a "mere" $100 to buy Caribbean Premier T20 League franchise Barbados Tridents, according to the PTI. Mallya left India last month "amid attempts by creditors back home" to recover Rs 9,000 crore ($1.35B) debt owed by the "long grounded Kingfisher Airlines." Mallya bought the CPL team in February "days before stepping down" as chair of United Spirits and subsequently losing control over Indian Premier League franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore. Mallya "explained how he along with other shareholders bought Barbados Tridents" for $100. Talking more about the acquisition, Mallya said that running the franchise will cost around $2M. He said, "By buying the team, me and the other shareholders assumed the obligation to participate in the tournament. Now participation in CPL cost money. So I went to the Barbados government saying I need your support. I met the Prime Minister and the government agreed to support but I paid $100 only to buy the team. Running the team will cost about $2M but the Barbados government is granting subsidies to the franchise" (PTI, 4/11).
