The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is likely to stick with the ‘more realistic’ eight-team format in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The board is likely to add two new franchises from IPL 2022.
Reports, meanwhile, had quoted that Sourav Ganguly & Co. will add a couple of teams in IPL from the next season. However, with the tournament just around the corner, the decision to add new team(s) is perceived to be a hurried one.
A decision on this will be taken by the BCCI during its upcoming 83rd Annual General Meet (AGM), scheduled in Ahmedabad on December 24. The addition of the new team(s) is still on the cards as the members will look to seek approval for the new franchise(s). However, floating an immediate tender is highly unlikely.
“The BCCI could call for the bids in February or March or April – whenever they think the time is right. The adding of new franchises say, stakeholders, will also add value to the 2021 edition once it becomes a talking point. That’s the line of thought as of now,” a source close to the developments told the Times of India.
Meanwhile, this will also mean that there won’t be an auction taking place. The apex body will also have more time to sell the title sponsorship rights – which were sold to Dream 11 ahead of IPL 2020, which was played in UAE.
“Two new franchises will obviously have their own share of value when the media rights tender comes along. Also, two more things: First, the central revenue pool for the 2021 season won’t be diluted, which means the franchises will be happy; Second, once again 60 matches will be held, which means lesser double-headers, so the broadcaster will be happy,” the source added.