The Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises have proposed a two-year ban on overseas players who withdraw from the tournament without valid reasons after being bought at the auction.

This proposal aims to address recurring issues faced by teams due to last-minute player withdrawals. Such situations force franchises to find replacements from a smaller pool of talent, ultimately affecting their performance.

According to ESPNcricinfo, all 10 IPL franchises agreed on the need for stricter regulations.

The owners highlighted the negative impact of last-minute pullouts on team strategies, which often depend on the availability of overseas players.

However, the franchises clarified that they are not opposed to withdrawals for legitimate reasons such as international commitments, injuries, or pressing family matters.

They expressed frustration with instances when players withdraw without any of these valid reasons after being signed at their base price.

Additionally, the franchises raised concerns about prominent overseas players skipping mega auctions in recent cycles (2018-24) but registering for mini auctions to attract higher bids.

For example, the mini-auction held last December saw Australian players Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins fetching significant amounts. Kolkata Knight Riders secured Starc for Rs 24.75 Crore, while Sunrisers Hyderabad signed Cummins for Rs 20.50 Crore.

This disparity has led franchises to demand that all prominent overseas players must register for the mega auctions. If unsold, they can then participate in the mini-auction the following season.