Picture Credit: IPL/BCCI
The COVID-19 crisis in India, which led to the suspension of IPL 2021 in the middle of the season earlier this month, is further continuing to hit BCCI. Owing to the same reasons, BCCI has planned to postpone the tender for new IPL teams. As per BCCI officials, the Board is currently more concerned about completing IPL 2021, and no discussions are taking place on the inclusion of new teams in IPL 2022. “No discussion in this regard is happening at this stage in the BCCI. We don’t see any moment on this before July” declared a senior BCCI official.
Currently, the Board is more concerned about the suspended season of IPL 2021 and is looking for all possibilities to complete the season. The BCCI official further mentioned that once the board comes to a conclusion on the conduction of the remainder of IPL 2021, only then can a decision be taken on new teams in IPL 2022.
Earlier this year, BCCI President Sourav Ganguly and Secretary Jay Shah had announced the inclusion of two more teams in the 15th edition of IPL, making IPL 2022 a 10 team affair. The BCCI had also decided that at the business end of IPL 2021, the tenders for the auctions of two new teams will be released.
However all these plans are put on hold, at least till July and with all these uncertainties, it is unlikely that new teams will be tendered for IPL 2022 anytime soon.
Mini-auction likely to take place next year
With BCCI set to postpone tender for new IPL teams and 10-team IPL being unlikely in 2022, there stands a chance that IPL 2022 might not see a mega auction. Instead, a mini-auction, similar to the one which took place ahead of IPL 2021 is likely to happen.
