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Sahara Group chairman Subrata Roy, who reached a compromise with the Board of Control for Cricket in India to pave the way for Pune Warriors' participation in the IPL, has demanded an open auction without any player retention to make the cash-rich Twenty20 league more entertaining.
Roy said that doing away with player retention will lead to teams being more balanced and matches more thrilling.
"One request of ours is not included in the joint-statement, but BCCI has definitely given us very positive assurance for looking into the matter seriously in the near future," read a statement from Roy, after he and BCCI president N Srinivasan reached a compromise that also paved the way for the corporate giant's return as Team India sponsor.
- Sahara-BCCI stand-off over; Pune Warriors to play in IPL
"Viewers' interest and their point of view should be given highest priority. Viewers should enjoy each and every match preferably with a thrilling finish in the last over. That is only possible when all the teams are well balanced. Even two weak teams can start defusing the charm of IPL.
"There should be perfect level playing field. We have strongly requested open auction without any kind of retention. Due to retention policy, a disparity in player ability and corresponding payment structure is created," he said.
He thanked all those who took part in the series of hectic discussions which led to the breaking of the 12-day impasse between Sahara and the BCCI.
"I genuinely appreciate all concerned senior officials of BCCI for their initiative in resolving the issue. My thanks to N Srinivasan, Arun Jaitley, Sanjay Jagdale, Rajiv Shukla, Ajay Shirke and Sundar Raman. Emotional initiative by Shashank Manohar is highly appreciated. With all his positivity, Shahrukh Khan motivated everybody by going out of his way, in the interest of IPL and Cricket," Roy said.
"I ... put on record the overwhelming support of media which truly helped to take it to the rightful resolution. Media has definitely proved to be so positive towards the cause of IPL and Cricket."