The owners of the all 10 franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL) are expected to take part in a special meeting, set to be called by the Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI). This gathering, aimed at the forthcoming mega-auction, will tackle various important topics.
According to a report in Cricbuzz, all 10 owners have been officially sent invitation for the meeting, which is scheduled to take place in Ahmedabad on April 16. The meeting will see the attendance of BCCI President Roger Binny, Secretary Jay Shah, and IPL Chairman Arun Singh Dhumal.
Retention conundrum: Diverging views among IPL owners
The discussion will center around the number of retentions before the auction, a topic that has caused division within the IPL ecosystem, with differing opinions among owners. There is no clear consensus on the ideal number, and the BCCI is reportedly working towards finding a compromise.
Some IPL owners advocate for an increase in the number of retentions, asserting that teams have solidified their positions and need continuity to strengthen their brand and fan base. On the other hand, another faction opposes such a high number of retentions and favors a smaller limit.
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Reviving the Right to Match card
Furthermore, discussions are underway regarding the reintroduction of the Right to Match card, a process used in past auctions but was not available during the last mega-auction in 2022. During that time, only four Right to Match cards were permitted, with a maximum allocation of three for Indian players or two for foreign cricketers.
Salary cap debate: Shaping financial strategies
Another significant topic up for discussion will be the salary cap, an issue that consistently generates divergent opinions across different sectors of the IPL ecosystem, including strong perspectives from the country’s cricket board as well. Notably, in the previous mini-auction, the cap was fixed at INR 100 crore; however, it is anticipated to increase.
