MUMBAI: In a move that is not surprising Hockey India plans to launch a franchise based league in January 2013. The FIH hockey?s governing body has given the event a window.

This is the second hockey league following the inaugural edition of Nimbus Sport?s and IHF?s World Series Hockey (WSH) which was held earlier this year.

The tournament will have six franchises.12 cities have been shortlisted. The players will be bought by the franchises in an IPL style auction in September.

Hockey India secretary general Narinder Batra has said that the FIH has given clearance for one month next year during which no international event will be held. "This has been done so that top players like Jamie Dwyer, Teun de Nooijer are free from any international engagements." He also says that interest has been expressed by groups in owning a team.

Each franchise will have a budget of Rs.30 million to form a 24- member squad, comprising 10 overseas and 14 domestic players who will be bought in the earlier mentioned auction.

The question is whether the sport can support two leagues. This move is very much reminiscent of the BCCI launching the IPL in 2008 to counter Zee?s ICL.