New IPL teams on BCCI AGM agenda today

AHMEDABAD: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) may decide on the inclusion of two new franchises in the IPL at the 89th Annual General Meeting (AGM) which is to be held at Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday. At the same time, tax matters, cricket committee, selection of India’s new representative to […]

by Abhijit Bhatt - December 24, 2020, 2:24 pm

AHMEDABAD: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) may decide on the inclusion of two new franchises in the IPL at the 89th Annual General Meeting (AGM) which is to be held at Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday. At the same time, tax matters, cricket committee, selection of India’s new representative to the ICC, and 3 new selectors would be deliberated upon in the meeting. BCCI secretary Jay Shah is likely to represent the board in the ICC.

The BCCI also sent an agenda of twenty-three points to all affiliated units 21 days before the meeting. The meeting will also decide on the new vice-chairman of the board.

Moreover, the inclusion of two new teams in the IPL will be discussed in the meeting. If the decision is taken in the affirmative, both the teams will get a chance to play in the IPL from 2022. Like the previous edition of IPL, only 8 teams will participate in 2021. Instead of a mega auction, this time there will be a mini-auction. Talks are underway for the Ahmedabad franchise in the new teams. Both Adani Group and Goenka Group have expressed their interest in buying the franchise. According to sources, this has been included in the meeting as the main agenda.

At the meeting, the ICC and the Asian Cricket Council will work on finding a new representative. Jay Shah, the current secretary of BCCI, is likely to represent India in the Global Committee along with Sourav Ganguly.

Mushtaq Ali Trophy, India’s domestic T20 tourney, will end on January 31. After this, there will be a mini-auction for the IPL in February. IPL will begin in the second week of April, as the home series against England lasts until the last week of March.

However, a BCCI official expressed that it seems unlikely that the number of teams in the IPL would increase this year.