CSK, RR get major boost as BCCI defers IPL mega auction to 2017

The auction, which would see players from all eight franchises go under the hammer, was originally slated for 2016. With banned teams Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals out of action for two years, the BCCI decided to postpone the auction. Both the teams were suspended by the Justice RM Lodha Committee, appointed by the Supreme Court to probe the 2013 IPL corruption scandal.

Players from both teams are expected to don other jerseys for the next two IPLs. The Board has reportedly told the remaining six franchises, at a meeting on October 28, that five players from each of the two suspended teams are available to be picked by the two new franchises for IPL 2016 and IPL 2017. The 10 players are expected to be picked by December 15 by the two new teams,  as reported by espncricinfo.

The cash rich league will continue to retain the eight team format till 2017 beyond which it will increase to 10, with the return of CSK and RR to the fold. 

The Board also decided to leave out Kochi and Jaipur out of the shortlist for the two new IPL teams which are expected to be announced by December 8. "It will be a walk-in bid on December 8. The base price for reverse bid from central revenue pool is Rs 40 crore and the party which bids for lowest share from central revenue pool will be the winner of new team," IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla told PTI. 

The base price for the two new teams is set to be around Rs 40 crore, as announced by IPL Chairman Shukla. The organizers expect a spate of applications for the new teams considering the response in the past. Board vice-president T.C. Mathew had said, "There is no doubt that there would be a good number of applications as it has been decided to select two new teams to replace Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals who remain suspended for two years," as quoted by Cricbuzz website. 

The Board also announced a slew of finacial measures to assist former criceketers, domestic and international. All Test cricketers who have retired before 31st December1993 and have played more than 25 Test matches will get Rs. 50000/- per month., the BCCI said on its website. All Test cricketers who retired before December 31, 1993 and have played less than 25 matches will get Rs. 37,500 per month.

The Board also announced one-time payments to former International Test players. Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri and Kapil Dev are among the set of 11 players set to receive 1.5 crores.