IPL 5 News

by **Aqi** Mon 12 Dec 2011, 2:18 pm

The stage is now set for an auction for the fifth edition of the
Indian Premier League (IPL). At a meeting of the IPL’s Governing Council
in Chennai on Saturday, a purse of $ 2 million was permitted for the
nine existing teams. The auction will be held sometime during the middle
of February.

Among a number of decisions made at the meeting was a motion to
increase the player strength of the franchises. The team can now have up
to 33 players. Currently, they are allowed a capacity of 30. They can
also recruit up to 11 foreign players. However, they cannot field more
than four in the playing XI.
With Team Kochi gone, the GC has
restored the home-and-away format for the league, with each team allowed
16 matches. The IPL 5 will begin on April 4 in Chennai with the final
scheduled on May 27, also at the home of champions Chennai Super Kings.
Chennai and Bangalore will host the play-offs.
The meeting,
however, has remained ambiguous on a number of issues, including on the
future of the Kochi players. It was decided that all the 27 players of
the extinct Kochi team will be thrown into the auction pool. However,
there is uncertainty if they remain unsold. Having been contracted to
Team Kochi for two years, the players were entitled for their fee for
one more year but the IPL has not come out with an assurance that it
will ensure payment for them if the franchise were not to honour its
commitment.
There is also no clarity on how the GC wants to break
the tie if there is a stalemate for a particular player at the auction.
In their recent meeting, the franchise opposed the idea of a secret
ballot cheque stating that the formula will benefit only the team with
deep pockets. At least one franchise was not too happy with the
decision. “We’ve clearly stated that we’re opposed to breaking the tie
with a secret cheque. At least a couple of players will breach the
ceiling. We want clarity on this,” said a franchise official reacting on
the decision. The GC has also not stated if all there will be a
separate auction for the Kochi players.
These issues may, however,
be finalised at the workshop for the franchises which the IPL wants to
hold on January 10. The trading window will open on December 15 and will
remain open till the last week of January. It will reopen for a few
days after the auction.