IPL Retention Rule Announcement Awaited

The Indian Premier League's (IPL) awaited announcement about the new retention rules is anticipated soon as the Governing Council gears up for a meeting today. Certain expectations suggest this announcement could be made within the next 24 hours, although it could also be decided in the forthcoming hours.

It has been confirmed by Cricbuzz that the IPL's Governing Council meeting is slated for Saturday, September 28. Dependable sources reveal that the meeting is scheduled for 6:30 PM at Bengaluru's Four Seasons Hotel.

The decision for the IPL Governing Council to congregate on Saturday was made last minute, as meeting notices were only sent to members on Friday evening. While it is expected that an announcement will follow the meeting, some speculate that the retention decision, an important policy call, might be discussed in front of the general body at Sunday's Bengaluru meeting, before being made public.

Other points of discussion for the Council, aside from the number of retentions, will likely be the date and venue of the mega-auction. Initial discussions suggest that it could be held at the end of November in a Gulf city. Saudi Arabia has also shown interest in hosting the auction and if approved by the Governing Council, it could occur in Riyadh.

Speculation surrounding the retentions is intensifying, with estimates ranging from 2 to 8. It is anticipated that the BCCI may settle on a mid-way number, potentially around 5-6, including the Right to Match (RTM) option.

The IPL team owners had gathered for a meeting with the BCCI at the end of July to discuss the league's various aspects, including retentions, and to garner owners' feedback.

Meeting timing updates report the shift from 11:30 AM to 6:30 PM, as of 12:10 PM IST on September 28.