IPL auction interrupted as auctioneer collapses; Charu Sharma to take over

The IPL 2022 auctions were halted on Saturday due to an unforeseen health emergency.

Auctioneer Hugh Edmeades collapsed while bidding for Wanindu Hasaranga was going on. The incident happened two hours into the action, which began at noon.

Hasaranga was just the second player on Saturday for whom bids crossed Rs 10 crore.

A Lunch break was taken due to the incident.

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According to word coming in from the IPL auction room, Edmeades has recovered. The 60-year-old's collapse midway into proceedings led to an early lunch at the ongoing event.

"He has been attended to by a doctor. He is doing fine, his blood pressure dropped suddenly and that was the reason for his sudden collapse. We will know more once he has a thorough check-up," a BCCI source told PTI.

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Hugh Edmeades from England was appointed by the BCCI in 2018 to conduct the IPL auctions. He replaced the previous auctioneer Richard Madley and has been responsible for conducting the mega event since. He has also conducted auctions for over 850 charity fundraisers in 30 cities across the world.

Overall Edmeades has conducted over 2700 auctions across the globe, primarily of cars including an Aston Martin used in a James Bond film, had Sri Lankan leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga's name under the hammer when he fell from his auction pedestal.

He was immediately stretchered off for medical attention and it came to light that he had suffered the fall due to low blood pressure.

With Edmeades needing some much-needed rest in these heated auctions, presenter Charu Sharma will take over once the auction resumes.

"Charu has arrived as backup plan and will conduct the rest of the auction," a BCCI source said. Sharma was the CEO of the Royal Challengers Bangalore during the IPL's first season.

(With inputs from PTI)