By IANS,
Mumbai : The fourth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will have eight teams as the Governing Council failed to take any decision on the Kochi franchise at its meeting here Wednesday.
“The Kochi IPL issue was not discussed as their deadline is yet to expire on November 27,” said Rajiv Shukla, vice-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The BCCI has given a 30-day notice to the owners of the Kochi IPL to sort out their problems, failing which their contract will be terminated.
The Governing Council, however, decided to go ahead with eight teams and slated the auction of players here for Jan 8 and 9.
“The IPL will start April 8 and the final has been slated for May 22. The opening ceremony will be held April 7. There will be a total of 60 matches, played by eight teams,” BCCI secretary N. Srinivasan said in a statement.
The top two from the league rounds will face each other in a play-off match, with the winner qualifying for the grand final. The third and fourth team in the league stage will contest the other play-off, and the winner of that match will play the loser of the first play-off to decide the second finalist.