IPL Governing Council to decide retention policy on September 28

The governing council of the Indian Premier League is set to meet on September 28 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Bengaluru to finalise the retention policy for the next season. The officials met IPL owners on July 31 to discuss the possible options, in which, franchises such as Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad voiced their opinion against the mega-auction while Chennai Super Kings, Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants noted that they were open to the idea of postponing the mega-auction.

Punjab Kings, on the other hand, were in favour of the mega-auction and as things stand, BCCI officials are to keep things the way it is. They are likely to allow each team to retain five players - three Indians and two foreigners. However, it is subject to change, given what the office bearers decide in their meeting in Bengaluru. 

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As per Cricbuzz, it was a last-minute decision to have a meeting about deciding the retention policy. The invitation for the meeting was sent out on September 27 and the officials were asked to join on the following day. Notably, the general body of the BCCI was slated to have a meeting on Sunday, September 29 in Bengaluru and a meeting of the governing council ahead of that sparked speculations.

Initially, when all the franchises met with the BCCI officials, a proposal was made forward by the owners of Sunrisers Hyderabad, in which, they requested the governing body to allow eight retentions and also proposed the idea of bringing back the Right To Match (RTM) cards. BCCI scraped that ahead of the 2022 mega-auctions and reports earlier claimed that it would continue in the same manner but the new meeting now can change things.

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It is expected that the IPL committee announce the retention policy by Saturday, or maximum by Sunday evening, after the general body meeting ends. As far as the mega-auction is concerned, it is likely to be taking place in November in Saudi Arabia. BCCI officials are likely to finalise that at the same meeting.