IPL 2022: KL Rahul & Rashid Khan could be banned for one year amid retention

On Tuesday, November 30, the IPL 2022 retention will take place, with all eight teams submitting their list of players they wish to keep. In the run-up to next year’s blockbuster auction, most teams have been making last-ditch efforts to keep players of their choice. However, ahead of the IPL 2022 season, key players like KL Rahul and Rashid Khan may face a one-year suspension for contacting rival franchises. Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have protested to the BCCI about the new franchise Lucknow ‘pursuing and poaching’ KL Rahul and Rashid Khan to quit their current teams, according to an InsideSport report. According to the article, the Indian board is currently investigating the complaints.

“We didn’t get a letter, but we did get a verbal complaint from two franchises regarding the Lucknow team stealing players. We’re looking into it, and if it turns out to be accurate, we’ll take appropriate action. We don’t want to upset the equilibrium. When there is severe competition, such things are unavoidable. But, when they’re trying to balance things, it’s not fair to the existing teams,” a top BCCI official told InsideSport.

KL Rahul was reportedly given Rs 20 crore by the RPSG-backed new Lucknow franchise to quit Punjab Kings, while Rashid Khan was reportedly offered Rs 16 crore to join them. SRH also wanted to keep the Afghan spinner but didn’t want to spend more than Rs 12 crore for him. Currently, Rashid Khan is paid Rs 9 crore, while Rahul is paid Rs 11 crore.

If the allegations are proven to be genuine, Rahul and Rashid could face a one-year penalty for violating the T20 League’s rules. Ravindra Jadeja was suspended for a season in 2010 for communicating with rival organisations while still under contract with the Rajasthan Royals.