The Indian Premier League's transfer window is now open. What that basically means is that over the next month, the eight teams can trade players among each other and some early indications are already emerging about what to expect.
Preity zinta has started enjoying her cricket and at Mohali, the co-owner of the Kings XI Punjab was relishing some Test cricket. Soon it will be Twenty20 time though and her team too will be looking for reinforcements to improve on their semi-final finish last year.
"As far as Kings XI is concerned we are always looking at ways to improve and talent is something that we want the best of," said the Mohali team's co-owner Ness Wadia.
While most franchises are being tight-lipped about the players they intend to offload, some sketchy reports are emerging.
Kolkata for instance is putting the mercurial Shoaib Akhtar for sale.
Deccan Chargers are willing to let Herschelle Gibbs, Rohit Sharma and Shahid Afridi go.
Zaheer Khan may be released by the Bangalore Royal Challengers and Makhaya Ntini by the Chennai Super Kings.
"We may love a player as a person but maybe he doesn't fit into it and we may have a glut of that kind of a bowler and that kind of a batsman and hence we have to move forward," stated Kolkata Knight Riders CEO Joy Bhattacharya.
The other tricky issue confronting the franchises is what to do about the Pakistan players? In the current climate, will those players be allowed to play in the second edition?
There are 11 Pakistan players under IPL contracts and for the moment, the franchises are taking a wait and watch approach.
"Mohammad Asif and Shaoib Malik are key players in our team and we look forward for their continued participation in the IPL. But let's see how things unfold in the next few months," stated Delhi Daredevils CEO Amrit Mathur.
The final list of players on the trading list will be out in another week but it isn't just players on the transfer list who can be traded for. Teams can negotiate among themselves for players too.
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