Will the IPL auction be held in Saudi Arabia? The Indian Premier League (IPL) auction is expected to take place in the last week of November. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is still in the dark about where the mega auction will be held.
Initially, there were reports that the IPL auction could be held in Saudi Arabia, with the cities of Riyadh and Jeddah being shortlisted by the board. But now questions have arisen about whether hosting the auction there is feasible.
Last year, the IPL mini-auction was held in Dubai. This time, there are plans for a mega auction. It was heard that this event could be hosted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is looking to make significant investments in cricket. The Saudi cricket board is hoping that IPL franchises will invest in their proposed league, leveraging the IPL’s popularity. Hosting the auction in Saudi Arabia would be the first step in that direction.
However, according to sources, there are increasing complications with organizing the auction in Saudi Arabia. One major issue is the cost, as hotel prices in Saudi Arabia are reportedly much higher than in Dubai. Due to this, many franchises are reluctant to travel to Saudi Arabia. Additionally, the BCCI is facing difficulties in finding suitable hotels for the event. A source from the board mentioned that they need to secure hotels where IPL officials, representatives from the 10 teams, and broadcasting staff can all be accommodated.
It’s also reported that making a final decision on the auction location has become quite difficult for the BCCI. If the auction cannot be held in Saudi Arabia, Dubai remains an option for the board. However, the BCCI is not keen on holding the auction there. London was initially considered as a potential location, but that idea was dropped due to the harsh winter. With only about two months left before the mega auction, the BCCI is still grappling with the decision of where to host it.
