For now, as much as team owners want the best players representing them, the idea is to ensure that — at least in the first season — things remain cost-effective. “If I have to hire Shane Warne at US$400,000 and pay 15 per cent more of that money to my icon player, then why have the costliest of the lot? Is he assuring me that my team will reach the final?” questions a spokesman for a franchise team.

Even the ‘conflict of interest’ debate doesn’t bother the team owners. “CA has to sort it out with its players. With players from so many countries where the respective boards have their team and individual sponsorships, and here in India with so many investors involved, this (the conflict of interest thing) is bound to happen. At best, I can say we’ll be preparing ourselves to deal with it. For now though, the boards have to sort it out with their players,” says an official from a franchise team.

With Modi washing his hands off in case of Australia, suggesting that CA better solve it, the message is loud and clear. An NOC for a player from the board will mean that player will have to sort all his financial dealings before he eventually lands in India. The auction coming up happens to be the first such instance in Indian sport, of bidding for man-power. In no way, these business heads believe, will it matter if a certain player cannot make it due to contractual obligations. “We’re building a brand along with the team. One or two players either joining or missing out will not matter as much as getting our fair share from the investment made. We’re here to do business and if it has to be without a Ponting, we’ll work that out,” says the official.