The Board of Management for Cricket in India’s (BCCI’s) Annual Basic Assembly (AGM) on December 24 is about to approve the addition of two new groups to the Indian Premier League, however IPL 2021 should still be an eight-team event, with the acquainted round-robin league adopted by the Playoffs.
“Approval on inclusion of two (two) new groups to the Indian Premier League,” states one of many 23 factors on the agenda of the AGM, to be held in Ahmedabad on Thursday. The Hindu understands that the proposal shall be handed unanimously on the ground of the assembly, however the “office-bearers shall be authorised to chalk out the nitty-gritty”.
“As soon as the addition of the 2 new groups is authorised in precept, the office-bearers will determine whether or not it’s possible so as to add two new groups straight away,” revealed an insider. “In the intervening time, they’ve been suggested that eight groups needs to be persevered with for IPL 2021. As soon as the market improves, the groups will be added for IPL 2022.”
It’s learnt that the BCCI hierarchy is all however satisfied about ready until IPL 2022 for a ten-team event. Contemplating the difficult financial state of affairs, primarily due the pandemic, the Board is unlikely to get the perfect deal both from potential bidders or the broadcaster. Moreover, the inclusion of two new groups will result in an overhaul of all the prevailing groups — a logistical and tactical nightmare for the BCCI executives and IPL franchises to tug off at quick discover.
A few franchise officers confirmed that regardless of “not having any say in decision-making”, they’ve been informally informed to be prepared for IPL 2021 with “the identical format”.