IPL auction to coincide with IND vs AUS Test; BCCI sends team to Riyadh, Abu Dhabi backup

Riyadh is all but set to host the upcoming IPL mega auction.

With the deadline for all teams to announce their player retention approaching, the Indian Premier League (IPL) is once again in the news. Every franchise needs to submit their retention list by 5 PM on October 31, 2024. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has chosen overseas shores for the mega auction this year. The mega auction this year is set to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Although the board is yet to announce its decision formally, reliable sources have informed Hindustan Times that the auction is all set to go ahead on November 24 and 25 in Riyadh.

File image of an IPL auction. (HT Photo)

File image of an IPL auction.

“Yes, we are looking at Riyadh for the mega auction. The auction will be a two-day affair this time around. A team has gone to Riyadh to do the proper verification and all. We are looking at hotels, and once the booking is done, we will make the formal announcement,” a source privy to developments told Newsloo.

“We also have a few backup options in mind, such as Abu Dhabi,” the source added.

If the mega auction does indeed take place on November 24 and 25, then it would coincide with India’s first Test against Australia, which is slated to begin in Perth from November 22-26. The mega auction will fall on the third and fourth days of the Test, respectively. However, Saudi Arabia and Australia have a major time difference. The proceedings on Day 3 and 4 of the Perth Test would come to an end by 3:20 PM IST Max.

The auction will most likely begin between 3:30 and 4 PM IST. Hence, cricket lovers will be able to enjoy both the Test and IPL mega auctions.

Earlier, it was reported that BCCI also explored few other options such as Dubai, Singapore and London, to host the mega auction, but in the end, Saudi Arabia has been chosen as the final option.

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