Punjab set to release Mayank Agarwal to go all out for Ben Stokes, Sam Curran in mini-auction: Reports

The Punjab franchise are all set to release Shahrukh Khan and Mayank Agarwal in order to target Ben Stokes, Cameron Green and Sam Curran in the upcoming Indian T20 League 2023 scheduled to take place on December 16. Alongside the two, Odean Smith is also set to be released from the Punjab team as the bowling allrounder failed to deliver for the team in the previous edition of the Indian T20 League after the franchise bought him for INR 6 crore in the mega-auction.

For the unversed, Mayank was bought in the auction for INR 12 crore while Shahrukh was roped in for INR 9 crore. According to reports by Cricbuzz, the franchise are looking to rebuild their squad ahead of the mini-auction and are ensuring to enter the pool with a huge purse. Mayank, who captained the Punjab team in the 2022 edition, failed to make any impact as the team ended up sixth in the points table with 7 wins out of the 14 matches that they played. 

Either Stokes, Curran or Green would do Punjab a lot of favour as the team lack a proper allrounder. However, the team might go all-out for Stokes as the allrounder has been proving his prowess over and over again. 

Punjab’s poor run since 2014

Ever since Punjab failed to win the finals of the 2014 Indian T20 League, the team have failed over and over again as the team is yet to reach the finals since that edition. In 2015, with only 3 wins in the tournament, Punjab ended up in last place contrary to that of the previous year. 

Shikhar Dhawan will lead the Punjab team in the upcoming edition and the team, under the guidance of Trevor Bayliss, would hope to turn their fortunes and clinch the title for the first time ever. Concerning the auction, the Indian cricket board is reportedly planning to schedule it in Istanbul, Turkey and the official announcement from the board is awaited.

“No final decision has been taken yet but we are looking at Istanbul. We haven’t met the teams and their officials in a relaxed environment since COVID, and this way we will be able to do that. A final decision will be taken after talking to all stakeholders,” an Indian cricket board official was quoted as saying.