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Many eyes will be on how Pakistan’s players fare after reports that Indian-owned franchises would follow the IPL and refuse to sign players from across the border.
There are 16 Pakistan names in the auction – two women (fast-bowling allrounder Fatima Sana and left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal) and 16 men including Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf and Shadab Khan.
The Franchises
Manchester Super Giants, once Manchester Originals, are now 70 per cent owned by India’s RSPG group and part of a growing empire including IPL side Lucknow Super Giants and SA20’s Durban Super Giants. Lancashire CCC own the other 30 per cent. Their new badge features the famous Manchester elephant.
London Spirit American based consortium Tech Tech have a 49 per cent stake, while the MCC kept the majority stake.
Sunrisers Leeds were sold lock stock and barrel to The Sun Group which in the process killed off Northern Superchargers. They too become part of a portfolio of sides, joining Sunrisers Hyderabad and Sunrisers Eastern Cape.
MI London, once the Oval Invincibles, also lost their name in the sell-off to India’s Ambani family. Reliance Industries Ltd now hold a 49 percent stake, with Surrey keeping the majority share. Their sister club is Mumbai Indians.
Southern Brave keep their name. GMR Group, the power behind Delhi Capitals and Hampshire, have a 49 percent stake.
Welsh Fire are half owned by Glamorgan, and half owned by India-American businessman Sanjay Goval, who also controls Major League Cricket franchise Washington Freedom.
Trent Rockets break the mould a little. Notts retain a 51 percent share, with the other 49 percent sold to Cain International, owned by Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly.
Preamble
Good morning brave new world. Today we crush the Hula Hoops and strut into the era of billionaire owners and player auctions, with a side dish of geopolitics
The women go under the hammer in about an hour’s time, tomorrow bids will be made on the men. In brief, each player will be listed in turn and the highest bidder wins their labour for six weeks in the summer.
The players are ranked into three groups – hero players (the 50 players who had the most interest from franchises), ranked players (each team then ranks 25 from the best of rest) and finally nominated players (each team selects an unsigned player they like, they then get auctioned, and if no other team bids they remain with the team who selected them.)
Media aren’t allowed into the auction room, but our man Andy Bull will be darting into the mixed zone when he can. We’ll be keeping an eye from the sofa, do join us.
