The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is doing all it can to ensure that the blockbuster auction for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season goes off without a hitch. On February 12 and 13, a total of 590 cricketers will be auctioned off in Bengaluru as the ten teams – including the newly-added Lucknow Super Giants and Team Ahmedabad – aim to bolster their rosters.
The auction will take place in a bio-secure bubble, with the COVID-19 outbreak in India posing a serious threat. The BCCI has set certain ground rules for all ten teams to observe at the IPL 2022 auction table.
In a bio-bubble, the IPL 2022 auction will take place.
- On February 9, 10, and 11, authorities representing franchisees must approve COVID-19 testing with a negative RT-PCR result. A BCCI-accredited medical agency will perform the testing.
In this auction, the team will not be allowed to use the Right to Match (RTM) option.
- The original eight IPL clubs were only permitted to keep three players, while the two new teams were given three draught selections ahead of the auction. It implies that during the auction, all of the teams will start with a blank slate.
The budget for the IPL 2022 has been increased from Rs 80 crore to Rs 90 crore in order to accommodate more players, particularly from the local circuit.
- Participants who have returned to India within the previous 15 days after an abroad vacation will be subjected to a seven-day obligatory quarantine and must test negative on Days 8 and 9. (twice).
- Those arriving at the team hotel on February 11 will be closely monitored by BCCI. They’ll be watched for signs of COVID-19.
- Testing will take place between the hours of 12 a.m. and 7 a.m. to guarantee the smooth running of the IPL 2022 auction on February 12 and 13. The members will remain in their rooms until the virus has been ruled out.
- All guests must provide the BCCI medical staff with all pertinent information, including COVID vaccination results (if any).
- At the auction table in the auditorium, all participants will be required to wear masks.
Meanwhile, the BCCI is anticipating a profit from the IPL Season 15 media rights agreement. Several networks are vying for the IPL Media Rights, including Sony Sports Network, Disney Star Network, Reliance-Viacom 18, and Amazon, among others.
The Indian cricket board will hold an e-auction in the final week of March to sell the IPL’s broadcast and internet telecast rights for four years, from 2023 to 2027. Before February 10, the Invitation to Tender (ITT) might be issued. The e-auction will take place 45 days after the ITT is floated.