BCCI Likely to Delay IPL Retention Rule Announcement, Franchises May Get More Time for Decisions
There could be an additional delay in announcing the retention rules. According to ongoing discussions between Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise owners and officials, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) may push the announcement until the end of the month. If the retention policy is made public during the BCCI’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for September 29 in Bengaluru, it won’t be surprising.
There is no direct link between the AGM and IPL policies, and BCCI might surprise everyone by releasing the policy in the next few days. However, the general belief among IPL officials is that the announcement could take at least 10 days to two weeks. Although no formal communication has been made, it’s understood that BCCI officials have hinted at a delay to franchises, especially after they recently approached them regarding the retention rules.
Initially, it was expected that BCCI would announce the policy by the end of August, as openly stated by board officials after the owners’ meeting in Mumbai last month. However, as the deadline approached, franchise officials reached out to BCCI and were reportedly informed of further delays, indicating that the announcement would likely come by the end of September.
Regardless of when BCCI announces the retention policy, it is now understood that franchises may have until November 15 to finalize their retention decisions. The auction, which is likely scheduled for December, will almost certainly include the “Right to Match” (RTM) options.
BCCI is believed to be considering a much-debated move to classify retired international players as “uncapped,” although it remains to be seen if this will significantly impact the auction values. This policy is not specifically designed to place MS Dhoni in the “uncapped” category to benefit Chennai Super Kings (CSK), as Dhoni playing another season is in the best interest of the league.
Additionally, CSK officials have indicated that if Dhoni decides to play next season, he will be one of their retained players, even if BCCI only allows two retentions. Interestingly, this decision could also affect other players like Sunil Narine, who retired from international cricket some time ago, with his last appearance being in a T20 match in 2019.
The general consensus is that removing retired players from the retention pool won’t significantly impact the auction values, as BCCI is expected to deduct a percentage of the franchise’s purse based on the number of retentions. This would allow franchises to set player values without having to determine the specific value of each retained player, as is currently the practice.