IPL10 Player Auction Delayed

IPL 2017 auctions which were previously scheduled to be held on February 4, 2017 have been delayed following the Supreme Court of India's decision to dismantle BCCI house at the beginning of the year. The delay is being blamed on the Court's indecision to appoint a committee of administrators to run the IPL.

2017 player auctions are likely to be held in third week of February © BCCI

However, with a four-member committee of administrators taking charge on Monday, the air will now be cleared quickly. The committee of administrators met with the BCCI management team to discuss the immediate decisions that need to be taken concerning IPL.

"The Committee of Administrators (COA) met the concerned BCCI officials today to take stock of the urgent and important matters mainly concerning the successful conduct of IPL 2017," a BCCI media release said. "The committee of administrators assured the franchises that it was overseeing the preparations for IPL and the 'operational timelines' will be sent out shortly." 

As per the decision taken by the Governing Council of IPL in November last year, IPL 10 is to be scheduled between April 5 and May 21, 2017. This will be the last year of IPL before teams overhaul their rosters for the 2018 season. All existing player contracts will expire after IPL 2017 and it is expected most players will go under the hammer at the auction ahead of the 2018 season. No word has been heard on the player retention rules yet. 

While the new dates of the auction have not been confirmed it is said that the same will be held in the third week of February. It is to be noted that this might be the last season for Rising Pune Supergiants and Gujarat Lions as the two ban for Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals end next year.

With players like Jason Roy, Sam Billings and Ben Stokes amongst others likely to be in the hot favorite list, it will be a much grander affair than past seasons this time around.