An interesting mix of players, including Indian Cricket League returnees, would go under the hammer at the third Indian Premier League auction during which the franchises would choose from a list of 66 to fill just 12 available slots here on Tuesday.
“Well there are a lot of buy-outs which are still in progress. I expect no more than 12 slots at the maximum to be available unless there are a few last moment surprises,” said IPL’s Chief Operating Officer Sundar Raman ahead of the auction that is to be held at a suburban hotel here.
A buy-outt means paying a contracted player his dues before the expiry of the contract in order to free him of his obligations towards the team.
Each franchisee has $750,000 at its disposal for buying new players at the auction featuring cricketers from all nine Test-playing countries.
The players bought would be contracted for only one season, specifically till December 31 of 2010, and that includes the Champions League Twenty20.
“In the first year we devised a three-year contract. We had said that at the end of three years, with the addition of franchises, the entire process would change. The changes will be effected after this season of IPL,” the official said.
Mr. Raman reckons exciting West Indian talents— hard-hitting batsman Kieron Pollard and fast bowler Kemar Roach — would be among the most sought after.
