The Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction is tentatively scheduled to take place on November 25 and 26 in Saudi Arabia, though the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has yet to confirm these dates. The BCCI is exploring various options and is expected to officially announce the schedule in the coming days.
One key challenge facing the BCCI is that the proposed auction dates clash with India’s first Test match in Australia, set to be held in Perth from November 22 to 26. This high-profile series will be broadcast on Disney Star, one of the official IPL broadcasters. To avoid any potential overlap, all parties involved are keen to ensure that the auction and the Test match do not coincide.
Due to the time difference between India and Australia, there is little chance of direct conflict, as the IPL auction is expected to begin in the afternoon, Indian Standard Time (IST), which would not interfere with the live Test match.
In preparation for the auction, several BCCI officials have already visited Saudi Arabia, with another group scheduled to depart for the Gulf nation on Monday. Riyadh and Jeddah are the two cities being considered as potential venues, with Riyadh, the capital, being the front-runner. The BCCI had previously explored other locations such as Dubai, Singapore, London, and even Vienna. However, Saudi Arabia seems to have emerged as the preferred destination, with a venue identified for the two-day event.
While the franchises would have preferred the auction to be held in India, the current situation means the teams are urging the BCCI to finalize the venue quickly. This will allow franchise representatives to make travel arrangements in time for the event. In addition, franchises must submit their player retention lists by 5 PM on October 31, a crucial step in finalizing their squads ahead of the mega auction.
