Former BCCI official reveals how Akshay Kumar saved a cash-strapped IPL team

He could have easily played hardball with all the aces up his sleeve but Bollywood star Akshay Kumar instead terminated his lucrative contract with Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in 2009 after the IPL franchise needed to cut down on losses, according to a new book.

The incident has been mentioned in detail in veteran cricket administrator Amrit Mathur's autobiography 'Pitchside: My Life in Indian Cricket' published by Westland Sport.

"Akshay signed a three-year deal with Delhi Daredevils to shoot promotional films, attend meet and greet events and make appearances at corporate events..." Mathur wrote in his book.

"Apart from Kotla act (he performed daring stunts), nothing much happened because DD didn't know how to leverage him. At the end of the season, during elaborate post-mortem held against backdrop of serious financial losses, DD decided to cancel or renegotiate the contract."

Mathur went on to write how it became an arduous job.

"Akshay's contract provided no exit; on the contrary, it gave him solid guarantees for a period of three years. DD's lawyers approached Akshay's staff, wanting to revisit the contract, but they made no headway.

"The (legally correct) response from his side was that contract didn't factor in early termination and it has run its course with full monetary compensation," Mathur recalled in his book.

"Seen from perspective of DD, Akshay's multi-crore contract could be equated to a self goal or hit-wicket dismissal. Considering the disastrous financial results and need for austerity, the star had become an avoidable expense. Knowing there was no legal lifeline available, DD appealed to Akshay for mercy."

Mathur claimed in his book that he was the designated trouble-shooter for DD and met the star in his vanity van during the shooting of Chandni Chowk to China.

"After the shot, we returned to his vanity van and I, very hesitantly, explained the reason for my visit and outlined DD's financial troubles.

"No problem ji, he said in a sympathetic manner. If it's not working, let's close it. I thought I hadn't heard him right.

"Seeing my confused look, he clarified slowly, 'Isko khatam kar dete hain (let us end this)'. When I mumbled about the stringent contract clauses, he reassured me, 'Koi baat nahin, main lawyer ko bol dunga (No problem, I will tell the lawyer)'."