The BCCI is most likely to approve the addition of two new teams for the IPL 2022 edition in its Annual General Meeting scheduled on December 24. According to reports, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and Secretary Jay Shah are favoring the idea of a 10-team IPL. In mid-2021, tenders for the same will be released.
“The inclusion of two new teams has now moved to 2022 because the franchisees did not want it in 2021 in order to cover up on the losses of 2020. In their view, the addition of two new teams will drain budgets from existing sponsors”, said a top source close to the development.
“Also there may be a problem with the ICC- IPL window. The number of matches will increase and the numbers of days will also increase, this might hamper the future tour program of all cricket playing countries”, he added.
Broadcast money per year will also have to be revised as two more teams and a total of ten teams in the league will mean more matches.
“Will the broadcaster agree to pay more for those extra matches? They might also back out as if this is not a profitable venture for them”, added another top source.
If reports are to be believed, industrialists Gautam Adani and Sanjiv Goenka have shown interest in owning the new franchises.
Popular sports commentator and Director Mashal Sports, Charu Sharma, is also in support of a 10-team IPL. Sharma says that 10 teams in a league like the IPL is an absolutely practical idea when a smaller country like UK can have 20 teams in the English Premier League.
“Inclusion of two new teams will definitely mean a tough calendar in place and the key will be to ensure that all top players are available for the entire duration of the league, after all, it’s a spectacle of big names,” he said.
“From a franchise perspective, addition of two new teams will mean more revenue, more matches and more sponsorship opportunities. For sponsors definitely it will be a big value add as they will get more exposure, so it’s going to spell success for all,” said Sharma.