BCCI considering only 9-team IPL from 2021; 10th two years later: Report

The Board of Control for Cricket in India may initially settle for a nine-team Indian Premier League from 2021 for several seasons, and implement its plan to have ten teams in two phases.

Slowing down on its earlier proposal to float a tender for two new franchisees for the IPL from the 2021 season, the BCCI is now considering to introduce only one from the season after the next and introduce the second two years after that, national daily Times of India has reported quoting sources in the BCCI.

The BCCI is reportedly considering many aspects to have a nine-team IPL in the years 2021 and 2022. The cramped international future tours program (FTP) is one of the factors it will be difficult to get a long enough window to accommodate a ten-team tournament.

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“Nine teams work well until a new FTP can fall in place (2023) and BCCI can introduce the 10th team,” the daily has quoted the source as saying. While the ten-team league will require a 90-day schedule, the league with nine teams could be completed in 76 days.

The prevailing weak market scenario is another area of concern for the board as it fears there might not be enough bidders for the franchisees as the base price starts from $ 300 million (more than ₹ 2,150 crore). “There are buyers. That’s not the point. But are there enough buyers coming to the table where bidding can be a competitive process? For one franchise? Yes, For two? Let’s see,” sources add.

The paper further reports that to have one new franchisee for the team with home at the upcoming Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera, Ahmedabad, will lead to a more competitive bid.

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“There will be takers, given the following for cricket in Ahmedabad and the resources available there. So, if a tender is brought out for one franchise right now, there’ll certainly be great amount of interest and will set a future benchmark,” say those in the know.

A final call is reportedly expected over the next few weeks.

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