IPL retention policy likely to continue

The retention policy of Indian Premier League (IPL) is most likely to continue as now the star players of certain franchises would continue playing for them. The news should come as a great news for the fans as they support a particular team only because players like Virat Kohli or MS Dhoni is the part of that team. The stocks of Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) went high in the last two seasons only because Mahi was the part of the franchise. However, the number of players to be retained will be finalised in the franchise owners meeting arranged on November 21.

Also, the player would be given an option of whether he wants to stay with his old franchise or he wants to jump into the auction. Last week, there were reports that the young sensation of Indian cricket Hardik Pandya had expressed his desire to leave Mumbai Indians and be the part of the auction which is tentatively scheduled in February next year. There are also chances that the players of now dismantled Gujarat Lions and RPS might go back to their old teams if their franchise decides to retain them.

Franchise can’t go against a player’s wish

The top official of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed the news to Times of India regarding the retention policy. “The retention policy would be there in all possibility. This is what the majority of franchises want. The only issue we need to thrash out is the number of players who can be retained. We need to work out whether it would be three or five players. For this very purpose, we have called the meeting of franchise owners on November 21 in Mumbai,” he said.

He also informed that the franchise can retain a particular player only if he is satisfied with its new offer. “The players would be given the option to decide over continuing with respective franchises or joining the auction pool. It will depend solely on them. Even if a franchise decides to open up its purse for a particular player, it can’t do so against his wishes. If a player has made up his mind to go under the hammer, no one can stop him. He will stay back only if he’s satisfied with the new offer his franchise is making,” the official added.

It is also being learnt that the teams like CSK and RR who are coming back after serving the suspension of two years, will have the first right on their players they had with them a couple of years ago. “The first preference would always remain with RR and CSK. The IPL GC had been clear about it from the beginning. But if these players want to go to the auction pool, then these two franchises can’t do anything about it,” he concluded.