IPL 2022: Jofra Archer registers for mega auction, to be available to play from 2023 season

England pacer Jofra Archer has registered for the upcoming mega auction after initially staying from the event due to his ongoing injury issues. He hasn’t played any competitive cricket since July 2021 and is unlikely to return to action for the next few months. Archer missed two big tournaments, Ashes and the T20 World Cup and didn’t feature in the home series against India either.

But he has decided to enter the auction which the BCCI informed the franchises even as the shortlisted players list has been announced. As many as 590 players have been shortlisted for the auction from the 1214 players that registered initially. Meanwhile, it has been understood that Jofra Archer will be available to play from the 2023 season and won’t be featuring in the IPL 2022. He has set his base price at Rs 2 crore.

“The ECB has registered Archer for the auction with a view to potential participation in 2023 and 2024, as due to his current injury it is unlikely that he can participate in IPL 2022,” BCCI told the franchises according to Cricbuzz.

44 new additions to the initial list

Meanwhile, as many as 44 new players have been added to the initial list including Jofra Archer. He is the only notable inclusion to the list from England while five players from Australia have been added. Usman Khawaja is one interesting addition. He scored centuries in each innings of the Ashes Test on his comeback to the Australian side. Khawaja had not enrolled in the initial registered list but now has kept a base price of Rs 1.5 crore.

Among the other countries who are part of the new additions list are one from Afghanistan, five from Australia, 11 from India, two from Ireland, six from New Zealand, two from Scotland, four from Sri Lanka and West Indies each, and seven from South Africa. Meanwhile, the BCCI has informed the franchises that the auction process will be accelerated from Player no. 161.

“For your planning purposes please note, subject to timings it is envisaged that the accelerated process will start after player no.161. The first accelerated process will cover all the players from 162 – 590. Franchises will be asked to nominate a set number of players from this group by 10 pm on the evening of 12th February.

“Once these players (162-590) have been presented, franchises will be requested to submit the names of players (unpresented / unsold) from all those on the full list of 590 for further accelerated presentation. This will be covered in more detail at the auction briefing on 11th February 2022,” the BCCI email stated according to Cricbuzz.