Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has already set its eyes on IPL 2022. It has not only started planning for the event next year but are also finalising all the details with regards to the mega auction ahead of next year. While it was earlier declared that two more teams will be added to the tournament from 2022, it is now being learned that ahead of IPL 2021 resumption, the board has spoken to the officials to go ahead with their new plans.
As per a media report, a meeting was scheduled in Delhi where the top board and IPL officials discussed matters regarding the sale of new teams as well as retention policies. BCCI has almost finalised the legal work for the tender document that is necessary for the sale of two more franchises.
Would be unfair if new teams do not have access to best players
Earlier it was reported that teams would be allowed to keep 3 Indians and an overseas player or 2 Indians and a foreign player for retention. However, since new teams are coming in, it is being argued that it would be unfair if they do not have access to the best players. This suggests that BCCI amend the retention rule to just three players.
It is believed that all eight franchises will be allowed to keep three players in their side. In earlier mega auctions, the franchises were allowed to use the Right-to-match (RTM) card through which they were allowed to match the auction price of the players, it would be interesting to see how that feature plays out or whether that happens at all this year.
IPL 2021 was originally scheduled to end in May but several Coronavirus cases inside bio-secure bubbles forced the postponement of the tournament. The second phase of the competition will now resume in UAE from September 19 and conclude on October 15. The El Clasico of IPL- Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings- is set to be the curtain-raiser to the second half.