Paul Close to take over as Team India physio

It's not only the Team India players who are getting a break; now the team's physiotherapist will also get a well-deserved rest.

Physio Nitin Patel will be transferred to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore from the forthcoming series against New Zealand, while Paul Close, who is serving at the NCA, will take over as India's physio.

Sources in the Board of Control for Cricket in India said the swap is mainly aimed at reducing the workload on Patel, while Close will be given experience of international cricket.

Patel, who took over from John Gloster, has completed three years as India's physio while Close has also completed three years at the NCA.

The source further added that their contracts, which expire in December, will be renewed for another two years.

Also, it has been reported that the players' auction for the Indian Premier League might be postponed to January 2011.

The players' auction, initially scheduled for November, has been put off following the delay in getting the IPL Kochi franchise registered.

The BCCI axed Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab from the Twenty20 tournament for irregularities in their contracts.

IPL Kochi was given a 10-day notice to get their house in order after an internal dispute saw the BCCI issue a notice for failing to form a joint venture company.