MUMBAI: The Indian Premier League (IPL) confirmed Wednesday that 1,003 players, including 232 overseas cricketers have signed up to be a part of the player auction that is set to take place on 18 December this year in Jaipur. However, only 70 spots are said to be up for grabs amongst the eight IPL franchises.
Out of the list, 800 of them are uncapped (746 are Indians) and three are from Associate Nations. For the first time in the history of the tournament, cricketers from nine states namely Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Puducherry will be featuring in the auction, courtesy their elevation towards playing in other domestic competitions such as the Ranji Trophy this season.
Amongst overseas nations, South Africa tops the list of registrations with 59 players. However, in a surprise, Australia comes second with 35 of them, considering that several star players from the country have pulled out of the auction ahead of a packed international schedule before the World Cup 2019. However, players performing well in the upcoming KFC Big Bash League are expected to make a case for themselves for a potential IPL contract.
As thought so, West Indies come third with 33 players. But in a heartening development, 27 of Afghanistan’s players are names likely to be bid for, seeing the success of Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb ur Rehman so far.
Franchises are expected to submit their players’ shortlisted on 10 December at 5 PM IST, which will trim the list significantly. As the tournament prepares to enter its 12th edition, Hugh Edmeades, an independent fine art, classic car and charity auctioneer will be the new gavel master, replacing Richard Madley of Wales.
Madley, also known as The Hammerman, will be missing the event for the first time in the tournament’s history, as he made the announcement on his Twitter handle the same day. He claimed that his favourite moment was facilitating the sale of ex-India captain MS Dhoni to Chennai Super Kings before the inaugural season in 2008 for $1.5 million.
‘Sorry not to be conducting #IPL2019 auction. It’s been an honour and a privilege to have been part of #IPL from the start. Will miss my many friends and followers in #India and beyond. Thank you for the welcome you have always shown. The Hammerman.
‘Greetings to all my CSK friends who I have got to know so well. Selling @msdhoni in IPL 1 is still a career highlight. #WhistlePodu.’ Madley’s tweets read.
However, with over 30 years of experience at Christie’s, Edmeades will engage the bidders from eight franchises in his inimitable style.
