IPL 2022 might see addtion of only one team, making it a nine-team tournament.
However, as per reports of the Times of India, the board may go ahead and add only one franchise instead of two in the coming IPL 2022.
The BCCI wanted to introduce two new franchisees next year, but there has been a sudden change of plans, which may be affected by the following reasons.
1. Introduction of only one franchise now allows the BCCI to reap better value for the 10th team in the near future, as simultaneous bids have the potential to cap the value in prevailing market conditions.
2. A nine-team IPL means a total of 74 matches which the BCCI seems appropriate at the moment. Adding two teams will force the BCCI to change the format of the league in order to fit the entire season within the existing timeframes (annual cricket calendar).
A change in format will need a renegotiation with IPL's partners, that too in a year when IPL media rights will be up for bidding again.
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3. International Cricket Council (ICC) will be busy finalizing its next Future Tours Program (FTP) and the members are in favor of an eight-event cycle. Meanwhile, the BCCI may try to convince the ICC for a bigger window for the IPL, extending it by atleast a month.
This extension will auger well for BCCI in terms of deriving better value from both – the media rights auction as well as the auction for the 10th team.
4. The BCCI does not wish to disturb the format at the moment, with only two seasons left before the new IPL rights cycle gets underway and the tender for the same is supposed to be floated by this year-end.
5. The Board expects the legalities involving arbitrations with Deccan Chargers and Kochi Tuskers to be resolved in the meantime.
Meanwhile, the Industry executives have welcomed BCCI's change of plans.
“All said, it’s a well-thought move. The BCCI will clearly benefit in the short and long run because it’ll derive better value from the 10th franchise in the future, doesn’t really disturb the ecosystem, for now, buys them more time to put their own house in order,” an industry executive was quoted as saying.
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“The idea is also to maintain the quality of the tournament, which means ensuring quality cricketers are available to make for a 10-team pool. Now, is that the case? The ecosystem can only expand in line with talent and manpower. That balance has to exist,” the one's privy to the development was quoted by 'Times of India' as saying.
BCCI sees a new potential big window for the IPL as the ICC moved the 2023 ICC World Cup from the February-March window to October-November. The board has been eyeing the month of March to be included for the T20 league and has the support of major cricket boards around the world.
"It is the smaller boards, who did not want BCCI's comeback in the ICC and is pushing for the eight-year cycle of global events to work, who are not in favor of what India's looking at. But from an industry standpoint, that's not how it works. The IPL is like the elephant in the room and it's going to make space for itself," add those tracking developments.
(Times of India inputs)