A host of players will go under the hammer in Mumbai on Tuesday in the auction for the 2010 Indian Premier League season.
Players hopeful for IPL spot
A host of players will go under the hammer in Mumbai on Tuesday in the auction for the Indian Premier League 2010 season.
However, a large number of the sixty-six hoping to play in the lucrative competition will be left disappointed as no more than 12 berths are free to be taken with the eight IPL franchises.
Each franchise has a total purse of around £460,000, but most teams have just one vacant slot which means they could spend their full amount on only one player.
Interest
West Indies batsman Kieron Pollard has reportedly caught the eye of The Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Mumbai Indians following his Champions League performance last year.
Delhi Daredevils and Kolkata Knight Riders have expressed interest in New Zealand's Shane Bond, while Trinidad and Tobago's Lendl Simmons, Australia's Brad Haddin and Phil Hughes and Sri Lanka's Thisara Perara are also likely to be sought after.
However, a major talking point is what might happen to the 11-strong Pakistani contingent after Pakistan players were kept out of the IPL in South Africa last year due to political upheaval between the two Asian neighbours following the Mumbai terror attacks.
All 11 Pakistan players could remain unsold due to continuing tensions between the countries but all-rounder Shahid Afridi, who has been in demand since Pakistan's victory in the World Twenty20 last June, is hopeful of returning to the IPL.
"I'm looking forward to playing in the IPL and if it is my destiny I will play in India," said Afridi.
Afridi appeared for Deccan Chargers in the inaugural season of the competition but was dropped last year.
Aggressive
IPL chief operating officer Sundar Raman expects bidding to be aggressive.
"The Pakistan players are interesting and the Australians add excitement," said Raman. "I hope to see a lot of them playing in the IPL this season."
There are eight English players in the auction, but Middlesex batsman Eoin Morgan stands the best chance of being bought as he is available for the entire season.
All successful players will serve out a one-year contract which also includes this year's Champions League.