IPL expands overseas quota

Dimitri Mascarenhas was the only Englishman to play in the inaugural IPL this year

The Indian Premier League has announced plans to raise the limit of foreign players a team can sign from eight to 10.

The decision was taken during a three-day meeting between franchisees of teams and officials of the IPL in Bangkok.

Teams, however, would be allowed to field only four foreigners in the playing XI for a match.

A players' auction will take place in Mumbai on February 6 ahead of the second season of the IPL, which is scheduled to be held in April-May.

The window for trading of players between teams will also open between December 15 and January 15.

It was also decided the squads would not be allowed temporary replacements from 2009 onwards and all teams that had temporary replacements will have the first choice to pick those players.

The IPL also relaxed the guidelines for commercial leverage for teams, providing them with more branding opportunities.