CUTTACK: Sixty-four players were bought by 10 franchisees for a total cost of Rs 65.44 lakh for the high-profile Orissa Premier League, to be organised by Orissa Cricket Association (OCA) in five city/towns from May 22 to June 12.
Altogether, 180 players belonging to the top four grades (A, B, C, D) went under the hammer in the nine-hour-long auction.
Cuttack all-rounder Biplab Samantaray (Grade-A) emerged as the costliest player. He was bought by his home team Katak Barabati Tigers for Rs 4.6 lakh.
The Cuttack franchisee spent around 80 per cent of the maximum buying limit of Rs 8 lakh as they offered Rs 6.80 lakh to purchase only two Grade-A players. Bibhudutta Panda, an all-rounder, was the second player in their net, costing Rs 2.2 lakh.
Among 180 players in the fray, 112 went unsold. However, OCA made it clear that the unsold players could be purchased by the franchisees by mutual negotiation.
The franchisees have been asked to submit a list of their registered players by May 15.
With each franchisee allowed to own 20-member team, most of them now have to buy Grade-E players, belonging to respective catchment areas.
Kashvi Power Rangers, Kendujhar made the highest bidding of Rs 7.17 lakh enabling them to rope in the maximum number of 10 top-bracket players.
Puri Emperors were the second highest bidders with Rs 7.15 lakh, which fetched them seven players.
Fancied Bhubaneswar Jaguars spent a total of Rs 6.6 lakh to own five players, among whom, all-rounder Paresh Patel emerged as the second highest costly player at Rs 3.9 lakh.
Former Test players Shiv Sundar Das and Debasis Mohanty were bought by Cooperative Kings, Dhenkanal and Angul Tuskers for Rs 1.8 lakh and Rs 1.65 lakh respectively.
Wester Samurai, Rourkela spent Rs 2.9 lakh to own their home favourite and dashing opening batsman Natraj Behera.
With the completion of players’ auction, preparatory process for the OPL came to an end.
The complete fixture of OPL will be released on May 16, OCA secretary Asirbad Behera said.