Reports: BCCI planning to complete sale of two new IPL teams in July

While the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) hasn’t been concluded yet, several eyes are also on the 2022 season. After all, two new teams are set to be added next year, making IPL a 10-team tournament. With the T20 tournament being an eight side affair since 2014, it will indeed be interesting to see what the addition of new franchises will result into.

Notably, this would not be the first time when more than eight teams have featured in IPL. The 2011 edition of the marquee event saw 10 sides in business while the next two seasons comprised nine franchises. With the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) deciding to expand the tournament again, many prominent bodies and business tycoons would be raring to get ownership rights in the new teams.

The interested parties certainly need to finalize their strategies and tactics soon with the auction of the new franchises being around the corner. As per a report in Cricbuzz, BCCI is planning to complete the sale of two teams before the second leg of the IPL 14, most probably in July itself, and the interested parties even have some indications on what can be the final price.

“We understand the tender will be floated next month, we have been waiting for this for quite some time. We will not be surprised if 250 million is the base price,” a CEO of a firm, who’s interested in buying one of the two new teams said.

Mega auction to take place in IPL 2022

Notably, IPL 2022 will also witness a mega auction with teams undergoing a complete revamp. Hence, cricketers, interested in bagging IPL contracts, must make a mark in their upcoming T20 assignments. With two new franchises coming in the picture, players will certainly have better opportunities of going under the hammer.

Meanwhile, IPL 2021, was scheduled to take place in April-May, was abruptly postponed on May 4 due to the widely spreading COVID-19 virus. The season will resume on September 19 with the remaining matches taking place in the United Arab Emirates. However, the competition will be followed by the ICC T20 World Cup and hence, many foreign stars might pull out of the remaining fixtures.