The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has called a meeting of the owners of the Indian Premier League (IPL) teams, scheduled to take place in Ahmedabad on April 16. The Gujarat Titans will be facing the Delhi Capitals at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera concurrently.
Invitations have been extended to all ten owners of the IPL franchises. While it’s anticipated that owners may be accompanied by their CEOs and operational teams, the meeting, expected to address significant issues, is reportedly designated for owners only.
BCCI president Roger Binny, secretary Jay Shah, and IPL chairman Arun Singh Dhumal are slated to attend the meeting. The correspondence regarding the meeting is believed to have been sent by Hemang Amin, the CEO of the IPL.
Amin has not specified the agenda for the meeting, but given the sudden nature of the invite, it is expected that the BCCI will address several policy decisions, primarily concerning the mega-auction scheduled for the following year. “They will discuss the way forward for the IPL,” said a source familiar with the matter.
Understandably, the number of retentions before the auction will be a focal point of discussion. This topic has divided the IPL ecosystem, with different owners holding varying views. There is no apparent consensus on the number, and the BCCI is believed to be seeking to negotiate a solution.
A section of the IPL owners believes that the number of retentions should be increased, arguing that teams have established themselves sufficiently and require continuity to bolster their brand and fan base. In fact, some suggest that the number of retentions should be as high as eight.
However, another group is opposed to such high numerous retentions and prefers a smaller number. Additionally, there is discussion about reintroducing the Right to Match card, a mechanism used previously but absent at the last mega-auction in 2022. At that time, only four were permitted, with a maximum of three Indians or two foreigners.
Another prominent point of discussion will be the salary cap, a subject that always elicits differing opinions among various segments of the IPL setup, with the BCCI itself having a strong view. During the last mini-auction, the cap was set at INR 100 crore, but it is expected to go up, considering the huge uplift in the teams’ central revenue share following the BCCI’s signing of a staggering INR 48,390 crore broadcast deal two years ago. (Cricbuzz).
