The forthcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) auction for the 2024 season will reportedly not feature veteran Hugh Edmeades as the auctioneer.
After five seasons, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly decided to opt for a replacement and not retain the seasoned auctioneer for the event, scheduled to take place in Dubai on December 19.
The departure marks a shift from the familiar presence of Edmeades, who took over from Richard Madley in 2018 and has consistently overseen the IPL auctions since then.
According to Sportstar, Mallika Sagar, who won accolades for her role as the auctioneer for the Women’s Premier League (WPL), is being considered to lead the IPL 2024 auction, pending her availability.
Sagar, an auctioneer at Pundole’s in Mumbai, was also the auctioneer for the Pro Kabaddi League in 2021, which made her the first woman to conduct auctions in PKL history.
Edmeades encountered a health scare during the mega-auction in Bengaluru in February last year when he collapsed due to “postural hypotension.” Charu Sharma filled in temporarily at the BCCI’s request, but Edmeades returned later to conduct the final phase of the auction. In the IPL 2022 mega auction’s first day at the ITC Gardenia hotel in Bengaluru, Edmeades collapsed on stage while auctioning Sri Lankan spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, necessitating immediate medical attention, after which Sharma took over the proceedings.
Amid uncertainties, Edmeades remained auctioneer for last year’s mini-auction in Kochi. Though Hugh While Edmeades won’t be leading this time, there is speculation that he might still be considered for the mega auction next year.
A total of 1166 players have registered for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 auction, with 830 being Indian players and the remaining 336 from overseas. Only 77 slots are available across the 10 franchises – 30 for overseas players and 47 for Indian players.
