Each spring, ISU Cricket Club members join forces for the first time of the year before the summer season begins.

The club holds an annual auction of around 62-70 players, in which 6-7 owners bid. This year’s auction took place March 29. The event was created as an attempt to group together cricket players of various backgrounds for an event before the summer season begins.

The idea of the auction came from the Indian Premiere League, who holds a similar auction and event, but with real money, instead of virtual money.

Senior Sannel Patel, president of the club said players from Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan and other countries tend to practice with players only from their countries throughout the school year.

“[The auction] helps us to distribute, and it also helps everyone play with each other,” Patel said. “The whole year, we’ve been separated. This is the time when everyone mixes together and gels as a unit.”

During an auction, owners are provided with five million dollars of virtual money to bid on available players. Players are selected randomly to bid on throughout the event, which sometimes leaves some of the better cricket players lasting until the end of the auction.

“What I as an owner and what most of the owners do, is try to buy one player from all different backgrounds,” Patel said. “If someone’s from Sri Lanka, you have a different aspect of playing cricket. Someone from Pakistan will have a different way of playing cricket, so when all of this comes together, a better strategy is formed.”

Players who attend the auction said they don’t have a preference which team bids the most on them.

“I don’t mind [playing] on anyone’s team,” said graduate student Tanzil Rahman. “It’s just for fun. I just love cricket, so I just want to play cricket.”

Owners’ strategies during auctions vary from owner to owner.

Sameer Mohd, former president of the club and current owner, said some owners try to get their favorite players, and are willing to spend a large chunk of “money” on one specific player. Other owners attempt to compete with players they’ve never played with before, and try out new strategies.

There are no rules to become an owner, but owners typically have had experience as captains during cricket tournaments.

“Owners kind of campaign for their teams, but in the end it comes down to who they’re sold to,” Mohd said. “There is no backing out. Once the final bid is done on a player, the player has to play for that team.”

Owners are expected to have leadership skills and lead senior players with more experience on the field.

Each owner has their team in place, and is preparing for the upcoming Inter School Premiere League on April 12-13.