IPL auction likely to be a slow affair

Dubai: The players' auction for the third edition of the Indian Premier League, scheduled in Mumbai on Tuesday, is expected to be a slow affair with almost all of the eight teams having their quota of 10 overseas players filled up already. The IPL has released its final roster of 66 players, though it remains to be seen how many of them generate high interest level among the representatives of various teams.

The list includes players from all eight Test-playing nations other than India, with Pakistan, Australia and South Africa being represented by 11 players each; nine from Sri Lanka; eight from England and West Indies; four from New Zealand and one each from Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Canada and Holland. While the teams are unwilling to name their ‘targets' as it's an open auction, a select few from Pakistan and Australia are likely to be contentious ones.

Speaking to Gulf News from India, Venkat Reddy, the Chief of Operations of reigning champions Deccan Chargers, said the teams would be largely looking to fill up the slots available. "We are looking at a fast bowler and an allrounder but nothing more," said Reddy, whose team upset the form books last season under the inspirational captaincy of Adam Gilchrist. Incidentally, the Hyderabad-based team had ended the contracts of Sri Lankan batsman Chamara Silva and bowler Nuwan Zoysa.

Asked about the targets the team have set for themselves, Reddy added: "We would certainly like to retain the trophy but then, you can't really predict in such a long tournament of this format."

Echoing similar sentiments about the auction, Amrit Mathur, the CEO of Delhi Daredevils said: "Teams have very limited requirements except for minor adjustments in terms of injuries, or if a player is not available like in case of a buy-out."

The IPL has set a cap on franchises' spending at $750,000 (Dh2.754 million), and most of it is likely to be focused on big name signings such as a Shahid Afridi or the dashing Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Brad Haddin.

Up for grabs

Australia: Brad Haddin, Philip Hughes, Doug Bollinger, Ashley Noffke, Adam Voges, Luke Pomersbach, Clint McKay, Graham Manou, Ben Laughlin, Jason Krejza, Damien Martyn.

Pakistan: Shahid Afridi, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Gul, Imran Nazir, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Mohammad Aamer, Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Akmal, Umar Akmal, Saeed Ajmal, Sohail Tanvir.

South Africa: Zander de Bruyn, Wayne Parnell, Tyron Henderson, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Rory Kleinveldt, Yusuf Abdulla, Vernon Philander, Johan van der Wath, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Morne van Vyk, Justin Kemp.

England: Tim Bresnan, Eoin Morgan, Robert Key, Anthony McGrath, Monty Panesar, Mark Ramprakash, Graeme Swann, Jonathon Trott

Sri Lanka: Nuwan Kulasekara, Nuwan Zoysa, Upul Tharanga, Thissara Perera, Thilina Kandamby, Kaushalya Weeraratne, Chamara Welegedara, Chinthaka Jayasinghe, Chamara Silva

West Indies: Kieron Pollard, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Daren Ganga, Lendl Simmons, Darren Bravo, Wavell Hinds, Kemar Roach, Sulieman Benn

New Zealand: Grant Elliott, Lou Vincent, Shane Bond, Nathan McCullum

Zimbabwe: Murray Goodwin

Bangladesh: Shakib Al Hasan

Canada: Rizwan Cheema

Netherlands: Ryan ten Doeschate.

Chargers: Gilchrist to play

The Deccan Chargers management is confident that their captain Adam Gilchrist, who voiced his apprehension about participation in IPL 3 following threats from the Shiv Sena, will definitely be taking part in the extravaganza.

A hardliner Hindu nationalist party, Sena had threatened a few days back to not allow the Australians to play in Mumbai in view of the recent spate of attacks on Indian nationals Down Under.

"Everything is under control and both him (Gilchrist) and coach Darren Lehmann will be very much a part of the next IPL. The squad will assemble in Hyderabad on February 26 for a conditioning camp," Venkat Reddy of Chargers said yesterday.