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Stage set for cricketers auction World cricketers auction begins
(about 1 hour later)
Some of the world's best cricket players are due to be sold at auction in the Indian city of Mumbai. The auction of some of the world's best cricket players has begun in the Indian city of Mumbai.
It is all part of the Indian Premier League's inaugural Twenty20 tournament.It is all part of the Indian Premier League's inaugural Twenty20 tournament.
Stars such as Ricky Ponting, Muttiah Muralitharan, Graeme Smith, Shahid Afridi and MS Dhoni will be up for grabs at this unique auction.Stars such as Ricky Ponting, Muttiah Muralitharan, Graeme Smith, Shahid Afridi and MS Dhoni will be up for grabs at this unique auction.
Eight city franchises can spend a maximum of $5m (£2.565m) on eight contracted players. The matches begin on 18 April and continue for 44 days.Eight city franchises can spend a maximum of $5m (£2.565m) on eight contracted players. The matches begin on 18 April and continue for 44 days.
Top-name players are set to cost upwards of $400,000 (£205,000) in the auction where India's richest businessmen and some of its Bollywood stars will bid for them.Top-name players are set to cost upwards of $400,000 (£205,000) in the auction where India's richest businessmen and some of its Bollywood stars will bid for them.
'Cricket bazaar''Cricket bazaar'
A total of 77 players are likely to be auctioned on Wednesday in what the Indian media is calling the "great cricket super bazaar". A total of 78 players are likely to be auctioned on Wednesday in what the Indian media is calling the "great cricket super bazaar".
Four "iconic" Indian players - Sachin Tendulkar (Mumbai), Rahul Dravid (Bangalore), Sourav Ganguly (Kolkata) and Yuvraj Singh (Chandigarh) - cannot be traded for three years and they will be paid 10% more than other team members. Five "iconic" Indian players - Sachin Tendulkar (Mumbai), Rahul Dravid (Bangalore), Sourav Ganguly (Kolkata), Virender Sehwag (Delhi) and Yuvraj Singh (Chandigarh) - cannot be traded for three years and they will be paid 10% more than other team members.
The auctioneer, Richard Marley told the BBC that players are expected to go for hundreds of thousands of dollars. The auctioneer, Richard Madley told the BBC that players are expected to go for hundreds of thousands of dollars.
PLAYERS ON THE BLOCK India : MS Dhoni, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Irfan Pathan, RP Singh, M Kartik, Ishan SharmaAustralia: Ricky Ponting, Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Matthew Hayden, Mike Hussey, Justin Langer Bangladesh: Mohammad Ashraful, Mashrafe MortazaNew Zealand: Stephen Fleming, Daniel Vettori, Jacob Oram, Brendan McCullum Pakistan: Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Yousuf, Shoaib Akhtar, Younis KhanSri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Sanath Jayasuriya, Lasith Malinga South Africa: Graeme Smith, Shaun Pollock, AB de Villiers, Herschelle GibbsWest Indies: Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine ChanderpaulPLAYERS ON THE BLOCK India : MS Dhoni, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Irfan Pathan, RP Singh, M Kartik, Ishan SharmaAustralia: Ricky Ponting, Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Matthew Hayden, Mike Hussey, Justin Langer Bangladesh: Mohammad Ashraful, Mashrafe MortazaNew Zealand: Stephen Fleming, Daniel Vettori, Jacob Oram, Brendan McCullum Pakistan: Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Yousuf, Shoaib Akhtar, Younis KhanSri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Sanath Jayasuriya, Lasith Malinga South Africa: Graeme Smith, Shaun Pollock, AB de Villiers, Herschelle GibbsWest Indies: Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul
"I have got starting prices of $200-400,000 and I can honestly say that I have no idea," he said."I have got starting prices of $200-400,000 and I can honestly say that I have no idea," he said.
"Its like diving into a swimming pool without knowing how deep the water is because the interest which it has generated worldwide is huge and so we can definitely say its going to create some auction records.""Its like diving into a swimming pool without knowing how deep the water is because the interest which it has generated worldwide is huge and so we can definitely say its going to create some auction records."
Charu Sharma, chief executive of one of the teams, said the auction was great for the game.Charu Sharma, chief executive of one of the teams, said the auction was great for the game.
"Financially for sure the Indian subcontinent is churning out a fair sum of money and that's all good. I think that is a reflection of the love of the game and the commercial understanding of where cricket can take you," he said. Critics of the tournament say that such an auction will ruin the game."Financially for sure the Indian subcontinent is churning out a fair sum of money and that's all good. I think that is a reflection of the love of the game and the commercial understanding of where cricket can take you," he said. Critics of the tournament say that such an auction will ruin the game.
The BBC's Rahul Tandon in Mumbai says whatever people say, the ground breaking auction will change the face of cricket forever.The BBC's Rahul Tandon in Mumbai says whatever people say, the ground breaking auction will change the face of cricket forever.
England are the only leading Test nation with no involvement in this year's tournament because of domestic commitments of their players.England are the only leading Test nation with no involvement in this year's tournament because of domestic commitments of their players.
The multi-million pound, International Cricket Council-sanctioned tournament will feature eight city franchises - Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore, Jaipur, Chennai, Chandigarh and Hyderabad - playing 59 matches in total.The multi-million pound, International Cricket Council-sanctioned tournament will feature eight city franchises - Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore, Jaipur, Chennai, Chandigarh and Hyderabad - playing 59 matches in total.
Bollywood stars like Preity Zinta and Shah Rukh have bought teamsBollywood stars like Preity Zinta and Shah Rukh have bought teams
Each franchise can sign up to eight non-Indian players for their 16-man roster, but only four foreign players can feature in the starting line-up and each XI must also contain four Indian players under the age of 22.Each franchise can sign up to eight non-Indian players for their 16-man roster, but only four foreign players can feature in the starting line-up and each XI must also contain four Indian players under the age of 22.
At least 13 Australians are likely to feature in the ground-breaking auction.At least 13 Australians are likely to feature in the ground-breaking auction.
The Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) has already earned over £800m selling TV rights and team franchises for the IPL, which was set up as a direct competitor to the rebel Indian Cricket League.The Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) has already earned over £800m selling TV rights and team franchises for the IPL, which was set up as a direct competitor to the rebel Indian Cricket League.
The franchises have been snapped up by some of India's richest men, as well as a coterie of top Bollywood film stars.The franchises have been snapped up by some of India's richest men, as well as a coterie of top Bollywood film stars.