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Life goes on and so does the IPL.
The IPL Governing Council met on Wednesday, the 19th of November, 2010 and it was business as usual.
The council members seem untouched by the sordid drama enacted on various stages.
We are enlightened that the fourth version of the IPL will begin on the 8th day of April, 2011 barely six days after the ICC World Cup final.
There will be eight teams for IPL4 with 60 matches and the final on the 22nd of May, 2011.
The players auction will be spread out over two days in January, the 8th and 9th respectively.
Players may be retained as per the rules earlier described: $1.8 million per annum for the first player so retained, $1.3m, $0.9m and $0.5m for the other three players reduced from its kitty. A small rider is now attached: both parties should be agreeable to the arrangement and the fee.
The rules have been modified to decide the winner. The top four teams after the league phase will participate in play-offs—rather than the semi-final format—for IPL4. This is a change from the previous three editions.
The top two teams will play each other to decide the first finalist. The third and fourth placed teams will play each other; the winner of this match will play the loser of the first tie to decide the second finalist.
These two teams will then face each other in the grand finale.
It all seems a bit convoluted to me but maybe the wisdom in this novel twist is beyond my limited comprehension.
No decision on the Kochi franchise has been taken as yet; the deadline expires on the 27th of November, 2010. The consortium is unlikely to survive according to news reports.
Ahmedabad and Rajkot are now favourites to make up the numbers for the eighth slot should the Kochi spot be vacated as expected.The current IPL is South-heavy.
The IPL Governing Council have also tightened the rules governing domestic cricketers contracted to IPL teams. The players are now expected to have competed in 60% of their state matches to be eligible to turn out for their franchise.
This is seen as a move to prevent newbies bypassing their state associations. The state associations will be responsible for submitting a player list to the IPL. This mimics the rule instituted for overseas players where the national cricket bodies decide which players are to be made available for the IPL.
Meanwhile, Justice B N Srikrishna has been appointed the sole arbitrator in the Rajasthan Royals-versus-BCCI dispute The two constituents are currently in the Bombay High Court; the Royals moved the court last month seeking revocation of their expulsion from the IPL.
Kings XI, too, have sought arbitration under Justice Srikrishna in a separate case.The matter will be heard on November 18.
The BCCI believe that they are on a good wicket with regards to the ousted teams; none of their communications consider the possibility of the reinstatement of the two expelled teams, Kings XI and Rajasthan Royals. Isn’t that an intriguing possibility?
Quote of the day:
In literature as in love, we are astonished at what is chosen by others. – Andre Maurois
Make Time For Sports. 
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