Orissa Cricket Association president Ranjib Biswal (left), secretary Ashirbad Behera (centre) and other officials release the logo of Orissa Premier League in Cuttack on Monday. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, May 2: Orissa Cricket Association (OCA) has been forced to raise the number of teams participating in the Orissa Premier League (OPL) to 10 in the wake of the astounding response even before the start of the first edition.

Earlier, the OCA had decided to allow a maximum of eight teams to participate in the OPL, which is slated to begin on May 22. A total of 14 bidders from various districts are now in the race to own a team in the OPL. The OPL logo was launched by Orissa Cricket Association at a news conference here yesterday.

“Keeping in view the response, we have raised the team limit from the existing eight to 10, besides a number of other changes for the mega cricketing event being organised for the first time in Orissa,” said OCA secretary Ashirbad Behera. The base price for a franchise to select and own a team has also been raised to Rs 8 lakh from Rs 6 lakh and the base price for players (according to OCA grades) has also been revised. Now a franchise would have to pay Rs 60,000 instead of Rs 50,000 to buy a grade A player, Rs 40,000 for grade B, Rs 30,000 for grade C, Rs 20,000 for grade D and Rs 10,000 to buy a grade E player.

OCA would release the list of 300 players tomorrow, who would be up for auction, which is scheduled to be held on May 13 at the OCA conference hall.

A franchise can opt for a maximum of six players from each grade. OCA will also provide a list of 10 coaches for the teams participating in the OPL. With the rise in the number of participating teams, a total of 44 matches would be played against the scheduled 27 matches. The cash prize for the champion team has also been raised to Rs 4 lakh from Rs 3 lakh.

There would be a match between the sides that lose the semi-finals. They would clash for the third and fourth position. The team placed third would get Rs 1 lakh and the fourth placed team Rs 50,000.

OCA sources have said negotiations were on with Ten Sports and ESPN for the direct telecast of the semi-final and final matches scheduled to be played at Barabati Stadium. The final is likely to be played at Barabati Stadium on June 12. “We are negotiating with the channels and if everything goes well then the semi-final and final matches would be telecast in either of the channels. Moreover, local TV channels would be airing the players’ auction as well as the opening and closing ceremony of the OPL,” Behera added.