Indian Premier League Gizzy style

IPL star Kane Williamson won’t be one of the players but the district’s top players will be. AP picture

CRICKET

POVERTY Bay Cricket operations manager Nicholas Hendrie is hoping to bring a taste of the Indian Premier League to Gisborne.

“I want to create a similar model to the IPL in the sense that we have franchises and an auction,” said South African-born Hendrie.

“The franchised teams will have famous Gisborne owners — Lance Cairns, Grant Bramwell, Ian Kirkpatrick and Andy Jefferd are some of the names that have been suggested to me — with a sponsor behind the team, the sponsor being optional.

“The teams will be structured in a franchised-based system where owners and captains of the team buy their players at an auction night a week before the competition starts on October 19.

“Players can register online at www.pbcricket.co.nz. Once the group of players have registered, PBCA will put a price on each player.

“Owners will be given a specific amount of ‘fake money’ to buy players on the auction night.

“On the auction night, the owner’s name will be written on a ball which will be drawn to determine who gets the order of picks.”

To stop owners and captains “stacking” teams for what will be called the Walker Shield T15 Blast competition, Hendrie has introduced stipulations.

“We want the teams to be as evenly balanced as possible to create a competitive competition, which hopefully will attract people along to watch and give the players something new and exciting.

“It would be a good chance to get some younger players along to watch and, being only 15 overs for each team, they wouldn’t be out too late.”

Hendrie said the guidelines would test the structure and buying power of the owners and captains.

¦ Two players under the age of 18 have to be in starting 11.

¦ Two players over the age of 35 have to be in starting 11

¦ Owners cannot have more than five players from one club in the starting 11.

¦ Teams cannot have more than five Poverty Bay men’s representative players in starting 11 (qualification for a district player is eight games or more in last two years)

¦ Captains of teams count towards these guidelines.

¦ Teams must include at least one woman cricketer.

¦ Teams will have a bowling 11 and a batting 11 for each game (12 in the team and they get to choose which 11 fields and which 11 bat).

Like the IPL, there will be fielding restrictions and a free hit will follow a no-ball.

A wide will cost a side two runs and an extra ball.

“We will be using pink balls and sponsored team clothing,” Hendrie said.

“If weather intervenes it will go down to a bowl-off (either on the wicket or in the nets). If that can’t be done, then it goes down to the captains doing a card cut.

“Tied games will be followed by an eight-ball super over.”