The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is all set to take the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 auction to Dubai later this year. Mark your calendars for the thrilling IPL 2024 auction, scheduled to unfold between December 15 and 19 in the vibrant city of Dubai. But that’s not all; the excitement starts early, with the second Women’s Premier League (WPL) auction happening on December 9 in Delhi.

Though the IPL franchises are yet to receive an official announcement, informed sources suggest that the Dubai auction will likely take place on December 18 or 19, even though these dates fall on weekdays. It’s worth noting that the BCCI contemplated Istanbul as a potential auction venue last year before opting for Kochi. With this in mind, the Dubai proposal may still be tentative, but franchisees have been given a heads-up about the potential location.

The player trading period is currently underway, yet no transfers between IPL teams have been disclosed as of now. As the three-year cycle closes, cricket enthusiasts eagerly await whether significant trades will unfold, particularly involving higher-paid players who had fewer contributions in the previous season.

As for the Women’s Premier League (WPL), the BCCI is yet to provide auction details to team owners. Speculation suggests that the WPL might be scheduled for February 2024, with the Indian women’s cricket team engaged in international fixtures until mid-January.

There remains some ambiguity regarding the WPL format. It’s unclear whether this will follow the previous year’s single-city format, such as the Mumbai stint, or if it will be organized across multiple locations in India.

IPL Governing Council chairman Arun Dhumal has already confirmed that the IPL 2024 will take place in India, despite the potential clash with General Elections in the country. Dhumal assured Jagran News that the IPL 2024 schedule will be announced after the election dates are revealed. This is crucial because coordinating with election dates is essential to ensure adequate security for the matches.

In 2019, the IPL faced similar scheduling challenges, with matches planned around election dates to avoid disruptions in states where voting was either completed or hadn’t started. Dhumal emphasized the need to work closely with the government to make the IPL 2024 schedule align with the election process.