UPDATE: The IPL auction has been suspended after auctioneer Hugh Edmeades collapsed on stage.
Those in the room were left stunned when Edmeades fell to the ground while bidding for Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga was in progress.
The official IPL Twitter account says Edmeades is “stable” following his fall.
LIVE UPDATES: Heartbreak for Aussies at Winter Olympics
LIVE UPDATES: NRL season kicks off with All Stars match
READ MORE: Pucovski concussed again during Shield return
READ MORE: Japan star saves Olympics from major mess
READ MORE: Warne unloads on Cricket Australia ‘disgrace’
https://twitter.com/IPL/status/1492435750058864645?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The fall was blamed on postural hypotension which can cause a person to faint.
Earlier, Australian Test captain Pat Cummins and opener David Warner both had their income from the IPL slashed, but they’ll still bank more than $1 million for this year’s tournament.
Cummins was picked up by Kolkata Knight Riders for $1.36m, down from $3.1m at the 2019 auction, a record price for an overseas player.
Warner, who fell out with his former team Sunrisers Hyderabad last year, was sold to Ricky Ponting’s Delhi Capitals for $1.16m, down from the $2.3m he was earning at Sunrisers.
https://twitter.com/wutube/status/1492392638884249601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Both players are likely to miss at least the opening week of this year’s IPL. The tournament is expected to start on March 27, however the pair will be in Pakistan with the Australian team until April 6.
There were no bidders for Steve Smith at his reserve price of just over $370,000, although he could still be picked up during Sunday’s bidding, while Mitchell Marsh will join Warner at Delhi after being purchased for $1.2m.
The auction will take place over this weekend, with 47 Australians amongst the 590 players up for grabs.
Two new sides will enter the IPL this year, Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans, meaning an increase from eight to ten franchises.
https://twitter.com/wutube/status/1492400166867193858?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!