The mega auction for the Indian Premier League is set to be held in November before ICC’s chairman-elect Jay Shah takes over his new role on December 1.
Shah is currently the secretary of the BCCI and will continue even after the next annual general meeting on September 29.
The BCCI is yet to come out with the rules for retention of players though it is expected any time soon. The auction is likely to be held in Riyadh or Abu Dhabi, sources told The Telegraph.
The latest development has left the franchises confused since they are still awaiting the retention guidelines.
A franchise official said they have been unofficially communicated to that the deadline for the announcement of players for retention will be November 15.
Last year’s auction took place in Dubai and the BCCI brass were overwhelmed by its success where for the first time, fans were present to witness the bidding process.
The BCCI had even considered hosting the auction in London a couple of years ago before deciding on Istanbul as a potential venue. The idea was dropped because of logistical issues.
The lack of communication has also left the franchises worried about several issues if the mega auction is held overseas.
“It’s not just about the players we want to retain. We also need time to prepare for the auction once the final retention list is ready,” a franchise official said.
The BCCI was scheduled to announce the retention rules late last month following their meeting with the franchise owners in Mumbai. The subsequent delay forced some of the franchises to seek clarification from the BCCI on the causes for the delay.
The number of retentions could be as high as six with the franchises given the option of at least two Right to Match cards, sources revealed. The final nitty-gritties are still being worked out.
The BCCI is believed to be still uncertain about the much-debated move of classifying retired internationals as uncapped players. Whether this move will affect the franchise players’ purse is a matter of contention.
If it materialises, Mahendra Singh Dhoni could remain with CSK as an uncapped player without affecting their auction purse.
A final decision will be taken after an IPL governing council meeting.
