The final list of the auctions for the Indian Premier League includes a whopping 66 players after the list was pruned down from the original 97. It had first been cut short to 96 after Chris Cairns had been axed due to his alleged match-fixing allegations.
This list consists of players from countries excluding India. The players from all over the cricket playing world including all the Test playing nations – the nine of them apart from India – and even the countries like Canada and Holland. Ireland, which had two players in the first list does not have a single player in the final 66.
Some of the players who have been selected in this list are originally from the Indian Cricket League, the unauthorised league. They had been provided amnesty by the respective boards and can now represent the IPL franchises if they do get chosen. There are also players who have retired from international cricket in the list.
Pakistan, Australia and South Africa lead the nomination list, with 11 players from each of the countries, while there are nine from Sri Lanka; eight from England and West Indies; four from New Zealand and one each from Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Canada and Holland.
Some of the youngsters making the list are the likes of Kieron Pollard and Shahid Afridi, both of whom are currently playing in the KFC Big Bash for the same side. The Aussies include the likes of wicket-keeper Brad Haddin, T20 specialist with an average of 50 plus Philip Hughes, latest bowling sensation Doug Bollinger, originally from Royal Challengers Bangalore Ashley Noffke, Kings XI Punjab’s ex-player Luke Pomersbach, and ICL returnee Damien Martyn.
The surprise package in the English list is Mark Ramprakash. Umar Akmal’s bright start to his international career make him a huge pick, whereas South Africa has players like Zander de Bruyn, Wayne Parnell, Yusuf Abdulla, Vernon Philander, Johan van der Wath, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Morne van Vyk and ICL returnee Justin Kemp.
Zimbabwe is represented by Murray Goodwin, Bangladesh by Shakib al Hasan, Canada has Rizwan Cheema whereas Netherlands has Ryan ten Doeschate.
It remains to be seen how many of these finally make it to the IPL, as only around 15 slots will be available for the teams given that most of the ten foreign player slots have been already filled.
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