IPL Introduces Two-Year Ban for Overseas Players Pulling Out Without Legitimate Reason
In a significant move to maintain the integrity of the Indian Premier League (IPL), overseas players who make themselves unavailable for a season after being bought at the auction will now face a two-year ban.
This strict policy was introduced to deter players from pulling out without a valid reason, disrupting team strategies. The only exception to this rule is for players facing injury or medical issues, confirmed by their home cricket boards.
This decision, driven by all 10 IPL franchises, was reached after the July meeting of the IPL governing council. Teams expressed frustration at players opting out at the last moment, which severely impacted their plans for the season. To address this concern, the IPL governing body introduced the two-season ban as a deterrent for future withdrawals.
“Any overseas player who registers for an auction and, after getting picked, makes himself unavailable before the start of the season will be banned from the IPL for two seasons,” the IPL stated in an official document shared with franchises.
Setting a Cap on Overseas Players’ Fees in Mini Auctions
In addition to this, the IPL has taken further steps to regulate player fees during mini auctions, responding to another request from franchises. The new rule mandates that overseas players must register for the preceding mega auction if they wish to participate in any subsequent mini auctions.
This measure was introduced to stop overseas players from bypassing the larger auction and seeking higher pay during mini auctions, where teams tend to pay premium prices to address specific needs in their squads.
A prime example was seen in the last IPL auction, where Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) set new records for overseas player bids. KKR secured Mitchell Starc for INR 24.75 crore, while SRH picked up Pat Cummins for INR 20.50 crore l. To prevent such situations, a “maximum fee” cap has been introduced.
Going forward, the fee for overseas players in mini auctions will be capped at the lower of either the highest retention price—currently set at INR 18 crore or the highest bid from the preceding mega auction. For example, if the highest bid at the mega auction is INR 20 crore, the cap for the mini auction will remain INR 18 crore. Similarly, if the highest bid is INR 16 crore, that figure becomes the cap for the mini auction.
Once a player is sold, any amount exceeding the cap will be added to the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) pool for players’ welfare.
These policy changes represent the IPL’s ongoing efforts to ensure fairness and a smooth auction process while protecting franchises from unexpected disruptions caused by overseas players withdrawing after being bought.
