BCCI likely to add 2 new teams in IPL 2021
The 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League will be held between March-April, in India, with the United Arab Emirates being a back-up plan. The tournament could be expanded to 10 teams, with Ahemdabad and another city in the reckoning.
FollowThe 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) was a huge success, despite being held overseas, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), behind closed doors. Meanwhile, the 2021 edition is looking to be even bigger.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is planning on adding a couple of more teams into the tournament. Also, the mega auction is being planned for the same, with teams from Ahemdabad and another city being reckoned.
As per a report by Cricbuzz, the BCCI is all set to meet for its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on December 24. During the meet, approval for the same would be obtained from representatives of all state associations.
It is to be noted that the tournament has already witnessed a 10-team tournament in the past. In 2011, the competition saw two additional teams, in the form of Pune Warriors India (PWI) and Kochi Tuskers Kerala (KTK).
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Nonetheless, if the two teams are approved, it would be interesting to see how the format of the tournament pans out. It could be possible that the competition is split into two groups, of five teams each.
Although it is not confirmed yet, it could be possible that former IPL teams, Gujarat Lions (GL) and Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS), could make a return. The teams played the tournament during the 2016-17 season, following the suspension of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR).
Additionally, the AGM would also see the election of vice-president, after Mahim Verma resigned last year. Furthermore, the fate of president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah would also be decided, ahead of the Supreme Court's hearing on December 9.
As for the other matters during the AGM, it includes:
- Election of two representatives in the IPL Governing Council.
- Induction/appointment of a couple of members for the General Body.
- An Indian Cricketers' Association representative.
- Appointments for Ombudsman and Ethics Officer, BCCI's representative to the ICC, Cricket Committee and Standing Committee, and the Umpires' Committee.
- BCCI's stand on the inclusion of cricket during the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
- Briefing state associations on ICC matters, National Cricket Academy (NCA), 2021 ICC World T20 and Future Tours Program (FTP).
