With the deadline for teams to submit their player retention lists approaching, the Indian Premier League (IPL) is in the spotlight again.
All franchises must announce their retention lists by 5 PM on October 31, 2024. This year, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has chosen to hold the mega auction overseas, with Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as the selected location.
Although the BCCI has yet to make an official announcement, reliable sources reported that the auction is scheduled for November 24 and 25 in Riyadh.
“Yes, we are looking at Riyadh for the mega auction. The auction will be a two-day affair this time around. A team has gone to Riyadh to do the proper verification and all. We are looking at hotels, and once the booking is done, we will make the formal announcement,” a source reported.
“We also have a few backup options in mind, such as Abu Dhabi,” the source added.
If the auction is held on November 24 and 25, it will coincide with India’s first Test against Australia, set to take place in Perth from November 22-26. The auction would overlap with the third and fourth days of the Test. However, due to the time difference between Saudi Arabia and Australia, the Test match will conclude by 3:20 PM IST each day.
The auction is expected to start between 3:30 and 4 PM IST, allowing fans to follow both events.
Earlier reports suggested the BCCI considered other locations like Dubai, Singapore, and London, but ultimately chose Saudi Arabia. The official announcement is likely to come after the player retention lists are submitted.
Regarding IPL regulations for 2025-2027, the IPL Governing Council announced in July 2024 that franchises can retain a total of six players, either through retention or the Right to Match (RTM) option. This includes up to five capped players (Indian or overseas) and two uncapped players.
The auction purse for IPL 2025 is set at INR 120 crore. The total salary cap, which includes the auction purse, incremental performance pay, and match fees, will increase over the years: INR 146 crore for 2025, INR 151 crore for 2026, and INR 157 crore for 2027.
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Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
