IPL 9 to have two new teams

Shashank Manohar stars his strict outing at the BCCI

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to bring in two new Indian Premier League (IPL) teams in the next two seasons, reports TOI. The big decision to invite two new franchises came in the aftermath of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals' (RR) 2-year ban, per the Lodha Committee report.

However, it was not clarified that whether IPL will be a 10-team affair from 2018 when CSK and RR will come back from their suspension. A senior board official said: "The decision whether it will be a 10-team affair from 2018 will only be taken at the AGM where the other major decisions including bilateral series with Pakistan will be discussed."

The board’s working committee met in Mumbai today to discuss many important topics. Shashank Manohar, the new President of the BCCI, chaired the meeting for the first time.

In a massive verdict on July 14, 2015, the Justice RM Lodha committee suspended India Cement's franchise CSK and Jaipur franchise RR for a period of two years from the IPL. It was reported that the BCCI members were not too keen on terminating the two teams which were involved in the 2013 spot-fixing scandal.

"The Justice Lodha committee interim report will be implemented fully. The two franchise teams, Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals remain suspended for two years. BCCI will float tenders and invite bids for two new teams to replace CSK & RR in the Indian Premier League for 2016 and 2017 (2 years)," the official statement read.

The Working Committee's decision was taken keeping in mind the suggestion given by the IPL Working Group, which comprised of IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla, secretary Anurag Thakur, former India captain Sourav Ganguly and treasurer Aniruddh Chaudhary.

As CSK and RR will come back after two years, we might get to see 10-team IPL in 2018. The cash-rich league management has a big task ahead of them as they first need to bring back the trust of the cricket fraternity.

The Indian Twenty20 league was founded in the year 2008 with 8 teams. It is currently the most watch T20 league in the World.

The BCCI going about things predictably. Two new teams for the IPL and then, by the look of it, a 10 team league. Was only real option.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 18, 2015