The apex Indian cricket governing body, BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) is looking at Saudi Arabia as a potential host for the upcoming mega IPL (Indian Premier League) 2025 auction. The Indian board is considering Riyadh or Jeddah as prime locations for the event, scheduled to take place in the last week of November.
While Dubai remains an option, it’s currently not the preferred choice. This potential relocation to Saudi Arabia comes after the success of last year’s auction, which was held at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, on December 19, 2023, a historic first for an overseas IPL auction. Finding a suitable venue in Saudi Arabia has proven challenging for the BCCI.
However, the costs in Saudi cities are much higher than in Dubai as per Cricbuzz, thereby presenting a logistical hurdle even for the world’s richest cricket league. The BCCI needs a location capable of hosting the two-day event and accommodating the entire IPL staff, including delegations from all ten franchises and representatives from the two broadcasters, Jio and Disney Star.
MS Dhoni yet to confirm his participation for IPL 2025
Initially, London was considered as a potential venue. However, the BCCI decided against it due to the cold weather typically experienced in the UK during that time of year. Last year, Mallika Sagar became the first woman auctioneer in IPL history, replacing Hugh Edmeades.
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The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) still haven’t confirmed legendary MS Dhoni’s participation in the upcoming season. A meeting between Dhoni and key CSK officials is expected in mid-October in Mumbai, where he will likely announce his final decision. The BCCI recently ruled that players like Dhoni, who haven’t played international cricket for over five years, can be classified as ‘uncapped’ and retained for a price of INR 4 crore.