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[Saba Sports News] The BCCI has informed IPL franchises that the auction will almost certainly be held overseas.
According to sources, the Middle East is the probable venue, with cities like Dubai, Doha, or Abu Dhabi in the running. There’s also speculation that Saudi Arabia, which has been investing heavily in sports, could host the auction. However, the exact location is still undecided.
Franchises are reacting cautiously, as the retention rules for the mega auction have yet to be shared. The BCCI hinted at a possible delay in the announcement of these rules, causing some concerns among teams about having enough preparation time.
According to reports the retention rules may be released by the end of the month, giving teams roughly two months to prepare. The deadline for teams to declare their retained players is expected around November 15.
While the BCCI has always wanted to hold the auction overseas, they only succeeded last year in Dubai. Cities like London and Istanbul were previously considered for hosting.
On the coaching front, several coaches who worked under Rahul Dravid with the Indian team are likely to join IPL franchises. Vikram Rathour, former India batting coach, is expected to team up with Dravid at Rajasthan Royals, replacing Trevor Penney. Paras Mhambrey, former bowling coach, is also expected to join a franchise, though details are still pending.
Meanwhile, Munaf Patel, former India pacer and 2011 World Cup winner, is also set to take up an IPL coaching role this season. These coaches have reportedly turned down commentary offers, opting for coaching roles instead.