In a recent development, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has selected two venues to host the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL 2025 auction).

While a specific location is yet to be determined, the BCCI is considering hosting the mega auction in a Saudi city.

Riyadh or Jeddah are understood to be in the top two places in the minds of BCCI officials. Dubai, located in the United Arab Emirates, is another option; however, it is not the best option at this time. The auction is expected to take place during the last week of November.

Notably, the upcoming auction will be a mega auction, after it was last held before the IPL 2022 season.

For the unversed, for the upcoming season, BCCI has recently increased the number of retentions to six players per franchise.

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BCCI makes a change from the initial choice of venue

A Cricbuzz report reveals that the BCCI has been facing difficulties in getting a suitable venue or hotel.

While budget constraints are unlikely to be a concern for IPL or BCCI franchise owners, both known for their substantial wealth, finding a location in Saudi Arabia has been a notable challenge.

Spending in Saudi Arabia is reportedly significantly higher compared to Dubai, where the last auction took place in December 2023.

Although earlier reports suggested that London had been shortlisted, the BCCI opted not to hold the auction in the United Kingdom due to the cold weather during this period.

Currently, BCCI and IPL officials are looking for a venue capable of hosting the IPL 2025 auction for two days and accommodate the entire IPL contingent, which includes delegations from all 10 franchises and a large group from the two broadcasters, Jio and Disney Star.

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