 Dhoni emerges as the hottest property in world cricket
20th Feb 2008 21:05 IST
Agencies
IPL Chairman and Commissioner Lalit Modi later said that some bids had gone surprisingly low while others had gone surprisingly "very very high".
"The rationale for this can be explained only by the franchises. They may have been swayed by the players personality, glamour and endorsements (value)," Modi explained during the course of the daylong process at a swanky South Mumbai hotel.
"Dhoni and Symonds were bid across the board," he added.
"This is the second most important day in world cricket, according to me. The first was in 1994 when the monopoly of Doordarshan came to an end when we won the court case. This opened up the market forces," top BCCI official I S Bindra told reporters.
"Its a landmark day. I have not seen anything like this before even on a cricket field. It has been amazing and full of drama," he said.
Bindra also pointed out that for the first time market forces were determining the worth of a player instead of the selectors.
"This is for the first time that market forces are determining the price of a player and not the selectors. This is how free market economy works," he said.
Ace Sri Lankan batsman and former captain Jayasuriya?s name went under the auctioneers hammer for USD 975,000 (Rs 3.9 crore) to become star Indian batsman Tendulkar?s Mumbai franchise teammate.
India s exciting all rounder Irfan Pathan commanded USD 925,000 while champion South African all rounder Kallis was bought over by Team Bangalore, for USD 900,000, the amount which Team Mohali, bid successfully for buying star Australian fast bowler Lee.
Two other members of the all-conquering Australian team captain Ricky Ponting and powerfully built opener Matthew Hayden could not draw big money mainly because they all are doubtful for the first year of the event.
continued.. |
