IPL 2022: New teams get two weeks time to pick players – As the IPL Governing Council formally approved the Ahmedabad franchise on Tuesday, it confirmed that the two new teams will get two weeks to pick three players ahead of the IPL Auction. Follow IPL 2022 Auction Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.
“We have been talking to the new teams, we are planning to give them 10 days to two weeks,” IPL chairman Brijesh Patel told PTI. He also added that there will be no change in IPL auction plans for now.
InsideSport earlier reported that the two new teams will get time till January 31 to pick three players.
IPL 2022: IPL Chairman Brijesh Patel confirms, ‘Lucknow & Ahmedabad franchises will two weeks to pick players’
RPSG Group and private investment firm CVC had successfully bid for the Lucknow and Ahmedabad franchise, respectively, last October. However, the LOI got delayed after it emerged that CVC had links with betting companies outside India.
Earlier, BCCI had issued a diktat asking the RPSG-backed Lucknow franchise to not negotiate with players. Now that the formalities are clear, the two new entities will be free to negotiate with players.
IPL 2022: IPL Chairman Brijesh Patel confirms, ‘Lucknow & Ahmedabad franchises will two weeks to pick players’
The BCCI, with the help of its legal team, took its time to probe the issue before deciding to approve the CVC bid. “The bids were approved by the GC today, LOI will be issued soon,” IPL chairman Brijesh Patel told PTI after the meeting.
The issuance of LOI means the two teams are formally part of the IPL, allowing them to pick players ahead of the auction on February 12 and 13 in Bengaluru.
While Lucknow franchise has all but formalised KL Rahul as their new captain besides title sponsor, head coach, assistant coach and mentor in Gautam Gambhir, Ahmedabad is yet to. Hardik Pandya and Shreyas Iyer have been linked to a move but nothing is official yet.
IPL 2022: IPL Chairman Brijesh Patel confirms, ‘Lucknow & Ahmedabad franchises will two weeks to pick players’
With India experiencing a third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the BCCI is exploring back-up options for the IPL, expected to be held in April-May, and it includes hosting the entire event in one state. However, Patel said it is still too early to decide on the matter.
“We would like to play in India but we have to see the situation,” he added.
The entire edition of 2020 was held in the UAE due to the pandemic. The tournament returned to India the following year but had to be suspended in May amid a devastating second wave in the country. The rest of the IPL had to be completed in the UAE in September-October.
“As of now, we are hosting it in India but the situation is fluid. It is too early to think about shifting it outside,” added a BCCI official.
IPL 2022: IPL Chairman Brijesh Patel confirms, ‘Lucknow & Ahmedabad franchises will two weeks to pick players’
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