The IPL mega auction will be a two-day affair, on February 12 and 13, in Bangalore. An official communication from the BCCI is awaited but the franchises were informed of the dates on Thursday.

The full players’ list for the auction is expected to be finalised by mid-January, after the two new franchises have made their picks of three players from the non-retained pool.

The BCCI will have to defer the deadline for the two new franchises to pick players — which was earlier scheduled for December 25 — since the neutral panel’s report on the status of CVC Capital Partners, the owners of the Ahmedabad franchise, is still in process. The panel was set up to look into the CVC Capital Partners’ betting links.

The eight existing franchises completed their retention process on November 30.

The dates for the auction are learnt to be final despite it clashing with the ODI between India and West Indies in Calcutta on February 12. The official broadcasters of both events, Star Sports, have also been informed.

The IPL franchises have also been told that the regular pre-auction briefing will be held on February 11, the evening before the auction gets underway.

Lara joins Sunrisers

Sunrisers Hyderabad have roped in former West Indies captain Brian Lara and former South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn in their support staff. Lara will be the strategic advisor and batting coach, while Steyn, who has played for the Sunrisers, will be their pace bowling coach. Steyn had announced his retirement from all forms of cricket this August.

Tom Moody, who was the team’s director of cricket last season, returns as head coach following Trevor Bayliss’ decision to part ways with the franchise.

Moody had coached Sunrisers for seven consecutive years from 2013 to 2019 and helped them clinch the title in 2016. Under Moody, the team also made it to the knockouts on five occasions.

Former Australia batter and coach Simon Katich will be the assistant coach, while former India batter Hemang Badani was named the fielding coach and scout. Katich was the head coach of the Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2021.

Muttiah Muralitharan continues to be their spin bowling coach. The Sri Lankan legend, who had been the mentor of the franchise, has been designated as strategy and spin bowling coach.

VVS Laxman, who too had been mentor till last season, was forced to quit after joining the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore. The sweeping changes to the support staff come in the wake of a dismal 2021 season in which they finished last.

It is also learnt that Gary Kirsten, who was coach of the 2011 World Cup-winning India team, is in talks to lead the support staff of the Ahmedabad franchise along with Ashish Nehra.