The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is exploring the possibility of hosting the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction in Saudi Arabia, with cities like Riyadh and Jeddah under serious consideration. (More Cricket News)
While no final decision has been made, sources indicate that Saudi cities a♐re currently preferred over Dubai, which had previously hosted the IPL auction in Decem🎀ber 2023.
🍌The auction, scheduled for the last week of November, requires a venue that can accommodate two full days of activities and a large delegation, including 10 IPL franchises and broadcasting partners Jio and Disney+ Hotstar.
Despite the immense financial resources of both the IPL franchises🔯 and the BCCI, finding an ideal location in Saudi Arabia has proven challenging due to higher costs compared to Dubai.
While pricing may not be a major concern, the logistics of hosting such a large-scale event in Saudi Arabia have complicated the decision-making 𒊎process.
L🤪ondon had initially been shortlisted as a potential venu𝕴e, but the idea was eventually dismissed due to the unfavourable weather conditions in the UK during this time of year.
As the BCCI continues to weigh its options, the search for the perfect venue continues, with Dubai remaining a fallback oܫption if Saud꧙i Arabia proves unfeasible.
Meanwhile, on the player front, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are eagerly awaiting a final decision from their iconic captain, MS Dhoni, regarꦐding his participat💯ion in the upcoming season.
Dhoni, who was last seen in the US, has returned to India and is expected to ꦦmeet with CSK officials in mid-October in Mumbai. While the franchise remains hopeful for his return, Dhoni's future is s🗹till uncertain.
In a recent ruling by the BCCI, players like Dhoni, who have not played international cricket in the last five ye𒁏ars, can now be classified as 'uncapped' and retained at a base price of Rs 4 crore.
