Mike Hesson 'certainly open' to mid-season loan transfer of players

How about a football style mid-season loan transfer at IPL 2020? An option that was first mooted by the IPL Governing Council last year could be exercised by at least Royal Challengers Bangalore this season in the UAE.

The Royal Challengers are open to such a possibility due to biosecutirty protocols, quarantine requirements and travel restrictions that could make it difficult to summon late player replacements at a short notice as they have the smallest travelling contingent of 21 players.

"Looks if needs must, later on, we are certainly open to it," team director Mike Hesson said at a virtual media conference on Wednesday. "We've got a small squad and we've done that for a reason. If something [injuries] was to occur, we'd certainly look at that.

"You, however, need both teams to buy into any potential loan. So you need to make sure the other side is happy with the loan and think they'll get benefit from it later on in the tournament as well. So it's not a matter of identifying someone you want, they also have to be allowed to be released as well."

Last year, the IPL had opened up a five-day window for uncapped players to be loaned mid-season in the manner of football transfers, subject to the player not having featured in more than two games. It was a move that found support from Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Mahela Jayawardene.

This time around, for the first time, the IPL has permitted loans of capped players - Indian or overseas - between teams at the halfway point in the season. Teams could use it should they have injury concerns going into the second half of the tournament.

"It will come in at some stage due to the fact that it's hard to get potential replacements," Hesson explained. "We are very comfortable with the squad we have, but if we get injuries or so forth then loan opportunities could become an option. It's certainly something that BCCI are well aware [of] as well."

If teams were to loan players, the arrangement would be between the franchises, with the money paid from outside the auction purse. The player will be entitled to his fixed auction price and won't benefit from such a transfer. The IPL, however, will be notified about the transaction.