IPL franchise owners seek action against defaulting foreign players, issue to be discussed at BCCI meet: Reports
Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise owners are likely to seek action against foreign players who pull out of the tournament citing unconvincing reasons after being purchased at the auction. The issue is likely to be discussed at the meeting set to take place between IPL franchise owners and the BCCI on Wednesday, July 31, at 7:30 PM in Mumbai.
During the IPL 2024 season, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) recalled its players for national duty before the playoffs. After the issue led to a major controversy, England's white-ball captain Jos Buttler, who represents the Rajasthan franchise in the IPL, reacted and opined that no bilateral international matches should be scheduled during the T20 league.
The likes of Jason Roy, Alex Hales, and Wanindu Hasaranga have pulled out of the IPL in the past citing reasons like personal issues and injuries, which the franchises have found not very convincing. According to a report in Cricbuzz, the issue of defaulting foreign cricketers is likely to come up for discussion during Wednesday's significant meeting between the BCCI and franchise owners.
The report also added that during one-on-one meetings with the BCCI CEO recently, some officials of IPL franchises have sought actions against defaulting players who have withdrawn from the tournament without giving a proper explanation. Some have even suggested that such players who do not follow professional etiquette must be banned from the league.
BCCI's meeting with IPL franchise owners: Key points of discussion
Several pertinent issues relating to the IPL 2025 mega auction and rules about the tournament are likely to be discussed at the meeting between BCCI officials and IPL team owners on Wednesday in Mumbai.
As per media reports, the auction purse could be the major focus during the crucial meeting. As of now, the auction purse limit for each franchise is ₹100 crore. Reportedly, franchises will look at the BCCI to see if this limit can be raised.
Further, the Impact Player rule, which has divided opinions among fans and critics, is also likely to come up for discussion during the interaction. Several players, including India's Rohit Sharma and Axar Patel, have admitted that they are not fans of the rule since it diminishes the role of an all-rounder.
The player limit on retentions per franchise could also be debated at the meeting between BCCI and IPL franchise owners. As of now, each team can retain four players each. Some franchises want this cap to be increased, but some are said to be against it as well. Last but not least, the ‘Right To Match’ (RTM) card option could also be discussed.