New IPL franchises will be announced on March 7

Indian Premier League (IPL) commissioner and chairman Lalit Modi has said that the two new franchises will be announced on March 7, 2010. The bidding for the franchises starts on February 21 and the criteria for bidding will be revealed that day. According to reports, there are twelve cities in contention for the two spots although Ahmedabad, Nagpur and Kochi are tipped to be the favorites. Other cities include Kanpur, Dharamsala, Indore, Cuttack, Gwalior, Vishakapatnam, Rajkot, Pune and Vadodara.

The base price for bidding is fixed at US$ 225 million whereas in the first auction the base price was only US$ 50 million. The highest bid then was for Mumbai at US$ 111 million won by Mukesh Ambani of Reliance Industries. Inclusion of two new franchises will see the league expanding to 94 games compared to the present 59 games if the format remains the same.

Modi in his press release said, “The addition of two new franchises to IPL 2011 is perhaps the most interesting development for the league from an operational perspective. We have scheduled the ITT (invitation to tender) process at this juncture to give the two new team owners enough time to set up their organizations and also participate in the player’s auction process post IPL 2010 for new squads.”

Meanwhile, Modi also said that a leading English football club has shown interest to own one of the new IPL teams. Confirming the news but refusing to reveal the name of the club Modi said, “There is a football club, a very famous football club in the UK, very interested in bidding. Probably one of the most famous football clubs – that’s all I can say. Probably top three. They are interested in taking a stake.” However Modi responded to the speculation among Indian media saying the club is not Chelsea.

There are also reports of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) having interest in buying an IPL team. The other names doing the rounds are Bollywood actors Salman Khan and Ajay Devgan while Indian Aviation minister Praful Patel who is also a businessman and Indian team sponsor Sahara are also interested according to reports.

Pakistani players will return – Lalit Modi

Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi has said he is sure about Pakistan players returning back in the future editions. Modi also pointed out that they still can play in IPL this year in case of any teams looking for replacements for their injured or unavailable players. Outrage by Pakistan senior officials and players have resulted in Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt and the country’s sports minister Aijaz Hussain Jahkrani saying that they will boycott the champions league this year and IPL 2011.

“We will discuss this with the Pakistan board officials when we meet them and I am sure the Pakistani players will return,” Modi told a leading Indian English news channel. “Some teams have still not finished their quota of players and some players can still drop out. In that case, franchises can choose Pakistani players as replacements.”

Modi also denied reports of mishandling and stressed that the decisions were purely of the franchises. “I don’t think that there’s any mishandling, the franchisees decide on their own. We never said in the first place that the government in any which way nudged up in that direction so it was a decision that was taken by the franchisees and let’s leave it at that. There was no pre-decision. They were all worried about the availability and that’s why the Australians weren’t picked up along with many other players and all that we keep hearing now is one story – about not bidding for Pakistani cricketers.”

Meanwhile, Jahkrani has demanded an inquiry from the Indian government as to why no Pakistani players were bided for. “We want the government of India to intervene in this issue and let us know who was responsible in keeping Pakistan cricketers away from the IPL. From day one our stance is that the IPL decision was an influenced one.”

New IPL franchise base price is US$225 million

In a latest announcement from Indian Premier League (IPL) governing council, it is confirmed that two new teams will be added from 2011, the fourth edition. The base price of these teams will be US$225 million, an amount four times the base price during the first auction held in 2007. Lalit Modi, IPL Chairman also announced that the 2010 edition will begin on March 24 in Hyderabad and the final and the third place play – off match will be held on April 25 at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.

The meeting was held a few days after Lalit Modi was assured of his IPL top job until 2012 by BCCI board president Shashank Manohar. Another important point discusses is for the franchises to keep with them a certain number of players, before the new auction ahead of the 2011 IPL. “The current franchises would be allowed to keep a certain number of players; the modalities are being worked out,” Modi said.

The base price of US$225 million shows the confidence the league has in itself and the ever-growing Twenty20 format. Rajasthan Royals which sold 11.7% stake to Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty for a whopping US$15.4 million after their historic triumph in the first edition shows IPL is growing bigger and bigger and supports the valuation of the new franchises.

Ahmadabad and Lucknow are the two cities favored to own a franchise and Bollywood actor Salman Khan has expressed his interest to own one of them. The league’s expansion to 10 teams will mean that the fourth edition in 2011 will see 94 matches played in 45 days, provided the format remains the same will challenge player’s fitness levels.

IPL committee has also decided to remove the cap of two on the number of centrally contracted Australian players the franchise can sign. The cap was on in response to Cricket Australia’s concerns of exodus of its players to the lucrative league when the league was launched. Modi also said he had received request from 12 Pakistan players to be part of the auction on January 19 to enable them to play in the third edition of IPL. The governing council has fixed a cap of US$750,000 for each franchise for the upcoming auction.

Pakistan players ruled out of IPL 3 – Modi

Indian Premier League Chairman Lalit Modi has ruled out the possibility of Pakistani players to take part in the third edition of the tournament in March – April 2010 after Pakistan Cricket Board failed to obtain their visas before the deadline on December 7. This will be second consecutive IPL without Pakistan players as they also missed out last year’s IPL after their government refused to allow them to play in India.

Modi said, “We have been informed by the PCB that they have not been able to obtain the visas as of now. So we are not able to extend the deadline. Today is the absolute deadline for confirmation of Pakistani players. Unfortunately, the Pakistani players are out and they will not be allowed to take part in the next IPL because we are handicapped by the fact that the exchange window is the day after tomorrow. We are informing the teams that they now can go for the replacement of the Pakistani players.”

Earlier PCB struggled to get the nod from Pakistan’s interior and foreign ministry before they could issue NOC to its players. IPL for its part had once extended its deadline which of originally November 20. However now according to PCB spokesperson they players were not given visas.

IPL imposes restrictions on overseas players

The Indian Premier League (IPL) workshop held in Bangkok has resulted in more restrictions for overseas players. The players will have to put IPL ahead of their domestic commitments, a step that will ensure a full strength participation of players in the Indian league. According to Lalit Modi, the chairman of the league, a failure to do so by the players will result in penalty or termination or a ban on the players to take part in IPL thereafter. The only exception for the players will be to take part in their national duties.

Modi said, “The IPL will work with all the cricket boards to ensure that cricketers contracted with the eight franchises are available for the season. The IPL 2010 season is in March-April, when a lot of domestic tournaments will still be on. This is a one-off situation. A worst-case scenario could mean penalties on such players, including termination of contracts, jeopardizing future participation. However, we do not want to walk that path and are hopeful that we can sort this through discussions with the boards.”

According to IPL press release, the IPL also wanted to adopt the Champions League Twenty20 model where many star players were made available for the tournament. “Given that this was also the founding principle of the Champions League Twenty20, it was agreed that in the event any of the member boards not issuing an NOC (No Objection Certificate) to their players for participation in the IPL, on the pretext of domestic engagements, IPL could make a representation to the governing council of the Champions League for taking appropriate action against the members boards’ participation in the League.”

The IPL is scheduled to be held in India in March – April 2010 rather than their normal slot of April – May. This is due to the scheduling of ICC World Twenty20 in West Indies that will start on April 30. The third edition of IPL will see a clash between Australian and South African domestic season which runs until end of March. However this will impact South Africans more that the top Australian players as Australia is set to play New Zealand during that period.

Bollywood boys on look out for IPL teams

The decision to add two new teams from fourth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has created interest in Bollywood as actors Salman Khan, Ajay Devgan and Sanjay Dutt are reported to be eyeing to own an IPL team. IPL is already filled with Bollywood colors as Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla owns Kolkata Knight Riders, Pretty Zinta co-owns Kings XI Punjab along with her ex-beau and businessman Ness Wadia, and Shilpa Shetty and her faience Raj Kundra holds a stake in Rajasthan Royals.

Salman Khan led the way when he met IPL commissioner Lalit Modi in a hotel in Mumbai just before the IPL committee meeting last week. It is reported that Salman’s interest to buy an IPL team was initiated by his sister Arpita’s fondness for the game. Speaking to media persons Lalit Modi confirmed Salman’s interest said, “We’ve been having discussions for the last few months, but this is our first official meeting. He was interested in knowing what it takes to own a team and the process involved – when his move could be initiated and how long it would take. I think he is a serious buyer.”

Salman’s business manager Vikas Kapoor said, “It is too early for us to talk about it. We will speak only if things become concrete.” According to IPL sources Ajay Devgan is also interested in buying a team. “A common friend from the IPL did approach us but that was long time back. Ajay was about to start his film ‘All The Best’ and so things didn’t move forward.”

Modi also said that there are about 20 celebrities wanting to become team owners but he refused to name any of them.

Possibility of two IPL a year

Despite facing numerous hurdles, the Indian Premier League (IPL) turned out to be a highly successful event for the second consecutive year. This has prompted Lalit Modi, Chairman and Commissioner of the league to say that it’s time to look beyond ICC’s Future Tours Programme (FTP) and enhance the player pool. He also said that the people should shed their “myopic” view in regards to FTP.

He said, “The FTP is a bilateral event and should have no issues with domestic tournaments being held elsewhere. We are myopic in thinking only about FTP. If England and West Indies are playing somewhere, it doesn’t mean other tournaments can’t take place anywhere else.”

Seeing the crowd response in South Africa and other nations’ interest to stage IPL, Modi hasn’t ruled out the possibility of staging two IPL a year. One with a regular pattern will be staged in India and a shortened version abroad is a possibility. He feels that multiple tournaments will give rise to a larger player pool, besides improving the fan base and increasing revenue.

He also hoped that the inaugural Twenty20 Champions League will prove to be another success. “I hope to take it around the world. That’s the objective.”

Focus shifts to T20 Champions League

After the successful conclusion of the second edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in South Africa, the focus is now shifts to the Champions League T20 2009. The tournament will be held in India from October 8 – 23, featuring 12 teams instead of the originally planned eight teams. Lalit Modi, the tournament chairman said that the venues will be finalised after the draw, which will be held in London on June 23, 2009.

The winners of the domestic Twenty20 tournaments from New Zealand, West Indies and Sri Lanka, along with the third placed Delhi Daredevils in IPL 2009, will participate in addition to the finalists from India (IPL), South Africa, Australia and England. There will be a total of 23 matches, and the teams will be divided into four groups of three each to play on a league basis before the top two teams from each group move on to the second stage. The four top teams from there will play the semi-finals.

Teams who have booked their berth are the Deccan Chargers, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Daredevils from India, Victoria and New South Wales from Australia, Cape Cobras and Eagles from South Africa, Wayamba from Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago from West Indies and Otago from New Zealand. The teams from England are yet to be decided as the final of the ongoing Twenty20 Cup is scheduled for August 25. Delhi qualified on the basis of having topped the league stage of IPL 2009.

The tournament was originally scheduled to take place during December 2008 in Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore, but was later cancelled due to terror attacks in Mumbai. The teams which qualified in 2008 – Rajasthan Royals, Chennai Super Kings, Titans, Dolphins, Western Australia are not eligible this year.

Fine for Slow Over-rates in IPL

The Indian Premier League’s governing body has decided to impose heavy fines on teams who fail to complete their allotted overs in the given time limit. The captain will be fined USD 20,000 for a first offense; a second offense will cost the whole team USD 220,000 and a third offense will result in a USD 360,000 penalty and a one match suspension for Captain.

The organising committee has also decided to reduce the strategy break time from the originally proposed 10-minutes to just 7½-minutes.

All these efforts are desperate measures to protect matches from the long delays that haunted IPL 2008. Lalit Modi, IPL Chairman said, “Last year we found that 59 out of 59 games went overtime by as high as 45 to 50 minutes or an hour.

“Each game was being dragged further and further and further. The reasons were that players were going back and forth with messages and there was a lot of strategy being decided from time to time. So we decided that we are going to tighten those as far as overs are concerned and time of play is concerned.”