In a decision taken by the Vinod Rai led Committee of Administrators, the media rights of BCCI (broadcast and digital) for the upcoming international and domestic matches will be granted through e-auction -- a departure from the sealed tender documentation process used till this year's IPL.The e-auction is expected to be held on March 27.

The rights have been split across three categories -- a global television rights plus rest-of-world digital rights package, an Indian-subcontinent digital rights package, and a global consolidated rights package. However, no formal alert was sent out by COA who decide to send out the notice directly to the concerned members. 

"Yes, we have been sent a note that says that BCCI's media rights for international matches will be held through e-auction process. Now the note doesn't mention why a sudden departure after BCCI got a whopping Rs 16,347 crore deal from Star India Pvt Limited for IPL rights. As per convention, they didn't even bother to summon a general body meeting," an aggrieved senior official said.

M Junction, one of the leading E-commerce major will now be responsible for the smooth conduct of this auction. "Now what was the process of roping in 'junction' for the e-auction is also not known. In any case, the COA doesn't like being asked a few probing questions," the angry official alleged.

Interestingly, one of the other powerhouses of BCCI apart from the CoA, was not in favor of the auction process as prescribed by the CoA. 

"For example, the surprise element of price discovery is gone if company A knows that company B will stop at Rs 100 during an e-auction process (if it's a forward auction, which will be the case here). Company A will then bid for Rs 101. But had it been sealed tender and there was desperation, if Company A bid Rs 100, company B could well bid Rs 500."

"That's what happened when Vivo and Oppo bid for India's shirt sponsorship. Despite being part of same parent concern, they didn't know each other's bidding price."

Oppo finally went onto bag Team India's sponsorship deal at rupees 768 crores.