IPL 2020 Auctions Likely to go on Despite Protests in Kolkata Over CAB

IPL 2020 Auctions

The IPL 2020 auctions, scheduled to be held in Kolkata on December 19, faced a possible roadblock, with the city knee-deep in protests over the controversial Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB). However, the league officials and franchise owners have confirmed that the auctions will take place as planned in the City of Joy. Despite non-stop rallies and protests, Kolkata has not turned into a violent zone, and though some parts of Bengal have been blocked from accessing the net, Kolkata has not yet been affected.

IPL 2020 Auctions

It has been learnt that the Delhi Capitals team management, and the representatives who will be present at the auction table for the franchise, will reach Kolkata on Tuesday morning and start their preparations.

“As of Monday evening, IPL auctions are on. Franchises will start arriving by tomorrow evening and Wednesday morning,” a senior BCCI official told PTI.

After the first list of cricketers in the IPL auctions had over 900 players, the BCCI trimmed it down to 332 players, who will be fighting for 73 spots. Australia’s Glenn Maxwell, Pat Cummins along with Chris Lynn will be the biggest picks, while players like Dale Steyn and Chris Woakes along with James Neesham can be much sought after as well. Of the 73 slots left to be filled, only 29 can be foreigners.

The Citizenship law that seeks to provide citizenship to all illegal immigrants except Muslims in India have been met with great protests, with Aakash Chopra voicing his concerns over the Act. However, the sporting sphere have remained silent on the contentious bill despite widespread hooliganism, which have forced the fans to question the power held by the likes of Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar.

The thirteenth edition of the IPL will begin from the last week of March, with Mumbai Indians walking into the edition as the defending champions. They had defeated Chennai Super Kings by just a run in 2019 to win their fourth IPL crown – also a record in the tournament.

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