Highlights:
- The mega auction of the IPL-2022 will be scheduled on Feb 12 and 13-2022.
- The IPL representatives entered bio-bubble and conducting ‘auction simulation’ in Bengaluru.
- BCCI asks all 10 IPL franchises to follow the 10 rules from rule-book.
Indian Premier League (IPL)-2022:
The IPL-2022 is a fifteenth season and it is a professional T20 Cricket league established by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in 2007. The fifteenth edition will see the expansion of the league, with the addition of two new franchises. In August 2021, the BCCI confirmed that two new franchises would join the IPL-2022 league. The new franchises names are Ahmedabad and Lucknow franchises. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) is the defending champions of last season.
Mega Auction of IPL-2022:
The mega auction for the IPL-2022 is to be held on February 12 and 13, 2022. The venue of the auction is Bengaluru. It will be a two-day event like the 2018 mega auction.
IPL Team Representatives entered to ‘Bio-Bubble’:
The IPL-2022 mega auction will take place in a bio-secure bubble amid challenging COVID-19 pandemic in India. On February 05th (Saturday), the IPL-2022 representatives of almost all teams (ten) have entered ‘Bio-Bubble’ in Bengaluru.
The IPL franchises are conducting ‘AUCTION SIMULATION’ at the venue to get accustomed to the IPL Auction Rules & prepare themselves for eventualities.
IPL team representative from Ahmedabad IPL Team said, “We are in Bengaluru, conducting AUCTION SIMULATION. We will be fully prepared for the auction”.
A total of 590 players have been shortlisted for the mega auction from the 1214 players that registered initially. A total of 370 Indian players and 220 overseas players will be up for grabs in what promises to be an action-packed IPL 2022 Player Auction in Bengaluru.
BCCI confirms – Hugh Edmeades to return as auctioneer for IPL-2022 Auction:
BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal has confirmed the person who will be orchestrating the IPL-2022 auction. He confirms Hugh Edmeades to return as auctioneer in IPL-2022 mega auction in Bengaluru.
BCCI treasurer has confirmed that Hugh Edmeades, who has been the IPL auctioneer since taking over from Richard Madley in 2019, will be back for the IPL 2022 auction. Dhumal said, “Hugh Edmeades will be back as the auctioneer. He did a good job last time and will do it again”.
Hugh Edmeades said, “I haven’t taken many auctions that last as long as the IPL ones. It is amazing how the adrenaline kicks in and sees me through to the end. With the 2022 auction being a two-day affair, no doubt I will have a good sleep on my flight back to London on the 14th February.”
He further added, “I am looking forward to welcoming the Lucknow and Ahmedabad bidders in Bengaluru. My life is made a lot easier by the fact that the bidders know exactly what they are doing and make their bids very clear to me”.
BCCI handed the rule-book to all 10 IPL teams:
The auction will take place in a strict bio-secure bubble amid challenging COVID-19 scenarios in the country. BCCI has asked franchises to follow these 10 Rules.
- The IPL 2022 auction will take place in a bio-bubble.
- The officials representing the franchises are asked to clear COVID tests with negative RT-PCR report on February 9, 10 & 11. The testing will be conducted by BCCI accredited medical agency.
- RTM Cards: This will be the first time in IPL auctions that no Right to Match (RTM) cards would be available for franchises. No teams can retain their old players with final calls unlike previous editions of IPL. It will threaten the core of Mumbai Indians (MI), Delhi Capitals (DC) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) among big names. Thus, all the teams are likely to witness a massive overhaul.
- The IPL 2022 purse has been raised to Rs.90 crore from 80 crore to accommodate more players, especially from the domestic circuit.
- Participants who have returned to India after overseas trips in the last 15 days will have to undergo 7 days mandatory quarantine and test negative on Day 8 & 9 (twice). That’s the reason foreign representatives of teams have already entered BI0-BUBBLE in BENGALURU.
- BCCI will keep a close watch on those arriving at the team hotel on February 11. They will be monitored for COVID-19 symptoms.
- The testing will be conducted between 12 am to 7 am to ensure smooth conduct of the IPL 2022 Auction on February 12-13. The members will stay in their rooms until declared negative for the virus.
- Only the participants who pass the test and complete quarantine norms will be eligible to take part.
- All the attendees will have to share full details including COVID vaccination results (if any) with the BCCI medical team.
- All the participants will have to wear masks in the auditorium at the auction table.
Broadcast Details:
Meanwhile, the BCCI is expecting a windfall from the media rights deal ahead of the IPL-2022. Several networks, such as Sony Sports Network, global giants Disney Star Network, Reliance-Viacom 18 and Amazon among others, are in the fray to grab the IPL Media Rights.
The Indian cricket board will sell the television and digital telecast rights of the IPL for four years – between 2023 and 2027 – through an e-auction likely in the last week of March. The Invitation to Tender (ITT) could be floated before February 10th-2022. The e-auction will then be conducted within 45 days of floating the ITT.
