The announcement of the IPL retention rules might be further delayed. According to sources within IPL franchise ownership and management circles, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) could push back the announcement until the end of the month. It wouldn’t be surprising if the policy were revealed around the time of the BCCI’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Bengaluru on September 29, reports Live Cricket Score.
While the AGM and IPL policies are not directly connected, there remains a chance that the BCCI could unexpectedly release the retention policy within the next few days. However, the prevailing belief among IPL officials is that the announcement is likely to be delayed by ten days to two weeks. No formal communication has been made to this effect. Still, it’s understood that the BCCI has hinted at this postponement when approached by franchise representatives seeking clarity on the retention rules.
Initially, the BCCI had indicated that the policy would be released by the end of August, following a meeting with team owners in Mumbai last month. As the deadline approached, franchises reportedly contacted the board and were informed of a possible delay, with expectations now set for a late-September announcement.
Regardless of when the retention rules are made public, franchises must finalize their retention decisions by November 15. The player auction, tentatively scheduled for December, is also expected to include the Right to Match (RTM) option.
One of the debated aspects of the retention policy is the possible classification of retired international players as uncapped, although it remains uncertain whether this would significantly affect team budgets. While some believe this move could benefit players like MS Dhoni, it’s seen as a league-wide decision rather than one tailored to favour Chennai Super Kings (CSK). CSK officials have stated that if Dhoni chooses to play another season, he would likely be retained, even if the retention limit is capped at two players.
This potential rule change could also impact players like Sunil Narine, who retired from international cricket in 2019. However, many believe that categorizing retired players as uncapped won’t drastically affect the auction purse, as the BCCI plans to adjust the purse based on the number of retained players, allowing franchises more flexibility in determining player values.
