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The Board for Control of Cricket in India is set to introduce a Tier-2 league like the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the T10 format. The league is set to take place in the September-October window. The plan is still in the early stages but stakeholders and potential sponsors have given an early vote of confidence while BCCI Secretary Jay Shah is working out the details.
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The board has taken the example of IPL which has revolutionized the sport since its inception in 2008. Regarding the T10s, the report by Moneycontrol, it is believed that the format could be key in increasing the popularity of the sport in the nation even more than it is at present.
The report further states that BCCI wants to resolve multiple issues created around implementing a new league. These issues can be regarding the format and other factors that affect the IPL as well like:
A) Should they go ahead with the idea of a T10 league or stick to T20 (the current proposal, though, is for T10)?
B) Should the league have an age cap for the players so that the new property doesn’t eat into the popularity of the IPL?
C) Should the franchises for this new league be sold through a separate tender process or can the existing IPL franchises be given the right of first refusal (there’s a mention of it in the existing contracts)?
D) Should the proposed tournament be played in India or have a new venue every year?
Talking about the involvement of IPL franchises, each team has a clause in their contracts with BCCI and the IPL franchises that allows them the right to first refuse any business model 'similar' to the IPL that the board wishes to launch.
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Sources in the report stated that the BCCI will honour the particular clause before taking any steps. The source said, "Whenever the BCCI decides to launch a new property, points A and C will always continue to remain the same given that cricket sells like no other product in India. It is point b that the BCCI might want to think twice about.”
