IPL 2018: Player retentions still unclear ahead of GC meeting

What's the story?

Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals might not get the chance to retain any players if one particular franchise have their way in the IPL Governing Council meeting. According to TOI, one particular franchise are "pushing hard" to ensure that the two franchises who are returning to the IPL after a two-year absence don't get the option of retaining any players.

Although the reasons for that are unclear, one franchise executive does not want those two teams to retain any players, a move which has been called by some as an idea that is "completely bereft of logic and is not fair on those two franchises at all".

In case you didn't know...

The move to have two teams unable to retain players is one that has no precedent. When two franchises, Kochi Tuskers and Sahara Pune Warriors were drafted in 2010, a fresh auction was conducted to ensure a level playing field. In 2015, when Gujarat Lions and Rising Pune Supergiant came in for the suspended CSK and RR, a draft system was introduced to ensure both teams were given a fair chance.

The heart of the matter

There were also reports earlier that said that CSK and RR would only be able to retain the players from Gujarat Lions and Rising Pune Supergiant, the two teams who replaced them for two years. The number of players who can be retained, the amount of right-to-match cards available for each team and the salary available for each are among the issues to be addressed at the IPL Governing council meeting. There were also reports earlier that there might a transfer window in place so that players warming the bench can swap teams in the middle of the tournament.

What's next?

The IPL governing council meeting is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, which will decide the rules in place ahead of the IPL Auction 2018, which is set to take place in February.

Author's take

Not letting two franchises retain any player certainly makes no sense, especially when you are looking to maintain fairness across the playing field. While you can understand why a few teams might not want to retain any players because of the what they have to work with, not having a universal rule doesn't make any sense whatsoever.

Whoever the team might be that doesn't want CSK or RR to retain players, their stand certainly defies logic and precedent and one that is unlikely to be agreed across the board when the final call is made.