the new IPL teams are likely to be based in Ahmedabad
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been sending shockwaves to India’s Indian Premier League (IPL) fans.
Soon after the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) concluded, rumours of two new teams being added have been surfacing.
Reportedly the BCCI will be approving two new franchises ahead of the 14th edition of IPL going to be held in April-May 2021.
The decision has stemmed from the IPL receiving record television and digital viewership during its 2020 season amid the turmoil of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The current estimated brand value of IPL stands at $6.8 billion (£5 billion).
The BCCI is set to discuss matters further on their Annual General Meeting (AGM) being held on December 24, 2020.
As reported by The Hindu, one of the 23 points on the agenda for the 89th AGM states:
“Approval on the inclusion of 2 (two) new teams to the Indian Premier League.”
The manner in which the item is phrased hints that it’s all but certain that two new teams will be added ahead of the 2021 edition.
Reportedly Adani Group and Sanjiv Goenka Group are interested parties and might bid for the new IPL teams.
Allegedly the new IPL teams are likely to be based in Ahmedabad and another in an Uttar Pradesh city of either Kanpur or Lucknow.
Pune is also in the fray.
Among the 23 items to be discussed in the AGM, is also the matter of the election of IPL’s vice president.
Mahim Verma, who held the post after being elected unopposed in 2019, has given his resignation and is set to be replaced by a new name.
The meeting will also see a discussion taking place on the future of current president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah.
Both of them are way past their designated tenures due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
They should have been taking a mandatory cooling-off period in normal circumstances.
A hearing on the same is also to be held on December 9, 2020, at the Supreme Court.
Among some of the other important matters that will be discussed at the AGM are “Election of two representatives” in the IPL Governing Council.
As well as the appointment of two members of the General Body and one representative of the Indian Cricketers’ Association.
The report further stated that a discussion will also take place on “BCCI’s stand on the inclusion of cricket” in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
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