IPL 4 will have 74 matches from 2011, 10 teams divided

in 2 Groups, New Auction in Nov

IPL - Indian Premier League governing council have finally revealed the tournament format and player retention as next three IPL season will have 74matches each while IPL 4 will start just 5 days after the 2011 Cricket World Cup ends on April 2. Officials also announced format, groups and new auction details.

From next season the IPL will comprise 70 league matches and four playoffs. With the addition of Pune and Kochi, 10 teams are divided into 2 groups with5 teams each. Each team playing the same number of matches (14 of which 7 would be home and the other 7 away) as in the previous IPL editions.

The IPL Officials also decided to allow the original eight franchises to retain a maximum of four players, including three Indians, and fixed a salary cap of USD 9 Million for each franchise to spend at the next players' auction set for the middle of November 2010.
League Format:

Each team will play the other four in its group both home and away (eight matches), four of the teams in the other group once (four matches, either home or away) and the remaining team in the other group twice, both home and away.

Playoffs Format:

The teams that finish first and second in the league table will contest the first playoff, which is effectively a semi-final (Game A). The teams that finish third and fourth will play each other in a knockout that is effectively a quarter-final (Game B). The loser of Game A will play the winner of Game B in a match (Game C) that will decide the second finalist that will play the winner of Game A in the grand final.

Players Retention Policy:

Each of the eight franchises that participated in 2010 can retain up to four players but a maximum of only three Indians. If a franchise decides to retain four players, it will be charged $4.5 million per year and will have only $4.5 million to spend on other players, compared to the $9 million available to a franchise that retains no one. Also, the size of the squad is capped at 30 players.

Ahead of the auction in November, the two new franchises, Pune and Kochi, will also be allowed to sign up to four players from a list of players who were not part of any of the other eight franchises in the first three IPL seasons.

A franchise can have up to ten overseas players in their squad but only four can be on the field during a game.

Posted in: IPL 4 2011