BCCI ropes in Malika Advani as auctioneer for WPL auction 2023
WPL 2023 auction is set to take place on February 13 (Twitter)
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has opted for a unique approach in the inaugural Women's Premier League (WPL) auction by selecting a female auctioneer to oversee the WPL auction proceedings. According to the WPL 2023 Player Auction Rules, which have been communicated to the five participating WPL franchises, Mumbai-based art collector and consultant Malika Advani will preside over the auction.
This is a departure from the conventional norm, where the auctions in the Indian Premier League have been conducted by seasoned auctioneers such as Hugh Edmeades, Richard Madley, and Charu Sharma.
In its communication to the franchises, the BCCI has also specified that each team must have a minimum of 15 players in their roster and must adhere to a minimum squad spend of INR 9 crore. The total purse for the WPL is INR 12 crore, with each team being permitted to purchase no more than six foreign players.
The players available for auction have been divided into five different base price categories, including INR 50 lakh, INR 40 lakh, INR 30 lakh, INR 20 lakh, and INR 10 lakh. Of these, 24 players have chosen to place themselves in the highest bracket.
Notable names such as Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepti Sharma, Shafali Verma, Ellyse Perry, Sophie Ecclestone, and Deandra Dottin are among the players with the highest base price. Meanwhile, thirty players have enrolled with a base price of INR 40 lakh.
The auction is scheduled to take place in the Jasmine Hall at the JIO World Convention Centre, with proceedings set to commence at 2.30 PM. A pre-auction briefing for the franchises will be held by the BCCI at 8 PM on Sunday, February 12th.
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