Bangalore, January 09:Indian Premier League (IPL) governing council
today dismissed reports that the ongoing player auction had been
fixed and some team managements had picked players of their choice
even before the auction took place.
Speaking to reporters IPL Commissioner Chirayu Amin dismissed asspeculation the reports in a section of the media that the teamowners had decided beforehand their choice of players and bid forthem accordingly.
”We Indians are known to speculate and this report is nothingmore than that. The IPL auctions have been most transparent and nosuch thing is allowed to happen. It is an open auction and any teamcan bid for any player. There is no place for manipulation,” he said.
Asked whether top bracket players like Saurav Ganguly, who remained unsold yesterday, could bring down their base price, Amin said according to his understanding, there is no option for players to bring down their base price which had been set by themselves.
IPL management denied media reports stating that the auction was ‘fixed’ as the teams had decided beforehand whom to pick.
‘We Indians are known to speculate and this report is nothing more than that. The IPL auctions have been most transparent and no such thing is allowed to happen. It is an open auction and any team can bid for any player. There is no place for manipulation,” IPL Commissioner Chirayu Amin said.
Meanwhile at the auction, with most places taken in the ten IPL squads, medium pacers were more in demand while most of the batsmen and all rounders remained unsold.
Experienced speedsters Lakshmipathi Balaji fetched 5,00,000 dollars as he was bought over by Kolkata Knight Riders, while Munaf patel was bought for 7,00,000 dollars by Delhi Daredevils.
Young Indian players continued to be in demand with Karnataka Ranji Captain R Vinay Kumar being pouched by Team Kochi for 4,75,000 dollars and his fellow pacer Abhimanyu Mithun was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore for 2,60,000 dollars.
Vinay will be the third frontline player from Karantaka who will not be playing for Royal Challengers, Bangalore. Rahul Dravid and Robin Uthappa, who played for liquor baron Vijay Mallya’s team last year, now play for Rajasthan Royals and Team Pune for the next two years.
Noted players who were ‘ignored’ by the franchises were former Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasurya, South African all rounder Justine Kemp, English all rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas, batsman Ravi Bopara, spinner Monty Panesar and Kiwi fast bowler Kyle Mills.
Four Ashes heroes have so far went unsold in the high profile auction and this includes Jimmy Anderson, Matt Prior and Graeme Swann yesterday and speedster Tim Bresnan, today.
————–UNI