The multi billion dollar Indian Premier League (IPL) will kick off its third edition on the 12th of March 2010 with champions, Deccan Chargers taking on the Kolkata Knight Riders at Hyderabad in the opening game of the tournament.
IPL 3.0 will be starting a month earlier this time in an effort to avoid clashes with the ICC's Future Tours Program (FTP) and allow the maximum number of international players to take part.
The transfer window for buying and swapping players will be open from 15th December 2009 to 5th January 2010 and one can expect some frenetic bidding in the attempt to secure the signature of some of the stars of the recently concluded Champions League T20, in particular Trinidad & Tobago powerhouse Kieron Pollard.
Other players who just might be in the shop window are Cape Cobras skipper Andrew Puttick and other T&T stars Dave Mohammed, Ravi Rampaul, Adrian Barath and charasmatic skipper Daren Ganga.
IPL commissioner Lalit Modi also revealed that foreign players will have to obtain no objection certificates from their respective boards to play in the IPL, in a bid to discourage players from choosing the cash rich IPL over national duty.
One of the major changes during next year's edition will be that a 3rd place play-off will take place between the two losing semi finalists to decide which team qualifies for the T20 Champions League.
One aspect of IPL 3.0 that the fans will not be happy about are the changes made to the strategic time out. As if one wasn't enough, IPL 2010 will comprise of 2 time outs in each innings, each lasting for 2.5 minutes.
The first one can be taken anytime between the 6th and the 10th over at the discretion of the bowling team and the second anytime between the 11th and the 16th over at the behest of the batting team.
Modi also told reporters that players who were part of the rebel ICL will be allowed to sign IPL contracts. Indian players will have their salaries capped between 8 and 20 lakhs, while international players will need to go through a player auction.
In addition to their usual home stadium, 4 teams- Mumbai Indians, Deccan Chargers, Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab have chosen to play their home games at another venue also. Mumbai Indians will play a few of their home games in Nagpur, Deccan Chargers in Vishakhapatnam, Rajasthan Royals in Ahmedabad and Kings XI Punjab in Dharamshala.
The tournament final will be held on 25th April at a yet to be confirmed venue.
The tournament final will be held on 25th April at a yet to be confirmed venue.
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