BCCI not likely to include new teams in IPL 2021

BCCI is likely to implement the 10 or 9 team IPL tournament from 2022 as the stakeholders of franchisees believe that introducing new teams in IPL 2021 might prove to be a hasty decision as teams will not get much time to build a strong squad for such a competitive stage.

But BCCI is yet to announce their decision regarding the inclusion of new teams in the tournament and are expected to promulgate after the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on the 24th of decision.

“There are a lot of modalities that needs to be discussed and most of the stakeholders feel that with IPL being held in April, there is very little time for a mega auction and to have a uniform retention policy, agreeable to all the existing franchises,” a senior BCCI official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

“You have to invite tenders and have a bidding process ready. In case you have two teams winning bids in late January or early February, they need to be given time for auction which can then be held only in March. That leaves a new team with very little time to plan,” he added.

As a 10-team IPL means 94 games and almost two and half month window which can trouble up the international calendar. Another important aspect that needs to be discussed is the availability of the top foreign players for the entire season of IPL and another concern that needs notice is that to ensure the broadcast money per year which is for 60 matches also needs to be re-negotiated as Star India is paying Rs 16,347.50 crore for a period between 2018-2022 and till date, it was for 60 matches per year.

Another news that has been floating around is of Guwahati approaching the BBCI for the proposal of their state team has been cleared by a BCCI official that they are not the reckoning of Guwahati to be introduced as an IPL franchise as of now. A senior BCCI official was quoted saying –“Teams are not granted to any state associations. BCCI AGM may approve the inclusion of 1 or 2 teams for the next edition. Inclusion of Guwahati in the list of potential cities at this stage is unlikely.”