IPL 11: Players can change their team mid-tournament?
The next edition of the Indian Premier League may witness an interesting feature. mid-day has reliably learnt that a player can represent another franchise if he does not get to play in the first seven matches of the season. The proposal was discussed during yesterday's lengthy meeting between the BCCI officebearers, IPL Governing Council members, the Committee of Administrators (COA) and the eight team owners/representatives. It is understood that team owners have unanimously agreed to the proposal. A final decision on the matter will be taken in a IPL Governing Council meeting. According to the proposal, a player becomes eligible to play for another team mid-tournament if he fails to be included in any game for the first seven matches. Of course, that's if any other team wants to have his services.
Mumbai Indians players and the team owner Nita Ambani with the IPL 10 trophy, after they won the Indian Premier League final match against Rising Pune Supergiants in Hyderabad on Sunday. Pic/PTI
Mid-season auction?
It could not be ascertained whether there would be a mid-season mini auction of such players or if the player will be 'loaned' out to another team like it happens in European football. "There have been instances where a player gets only a few games and that too towards the business end of the tournament or warms the bench throughout the season. A team buys a certain player in the auction, but later finds it difficult to accommodate him in the playing XI due to their combination or team balance. This proposal is a win-win situation for players and teams. The idea was discussed in the meeting and all owners/team representatives seemed convinced about it. The modalities will be worked out as soon as the IPL body accepts the proposal," a BCCI source told mid-day.
Squad size issue
It is also learnt that a few high profile team owners appealed to the IPL Governing Council not to put any restriction on the number of players in a squad. Currently, the maximum squad size of an IPL team is 27. At one point of time, it was 33. "Several team owners were averse to the rule of having 27 members in a squad. One team wanted to have just 15 players while another was fine with a 20-player squad. They highlighted the Big Bash League's rule of just 18 players in a squad as an example," said the source. A similar proposal was made during the last IPL auction.
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