Why run an auction for an office tournament
Picking teams by department or by drawing names works, but an auction does three things those can't:
- It balances the teams. Every captain has the same budget, so the strongest players end up spread out instead of stacked in one department.
- It mixes people who never work together. A finance analyst and a developer on the same side is the whole point of a company event.
- It is an event in itself. People who never touch a bat still watch the auction, cheer for their manager's bids and share the results.
Pick a team format
| Format | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Open pool | Everyone registers individually; captains bid for all players | Most balanced teams, strongest mixing |
| Department teams + auction | Each department keeps a core of 4–5; the rest are auctioned | Departmental rivalry with fair top-ups |
| Location teams | One team per office or floor; auction only within each location | Multi-city companies |
Box cricket or 6-a-side formats need squads of about 8–10; full 11-a-side needs 14–16. Keep the player pool 10–20% larger than the total squad slots so the last picks still involve a choice.
Set a points budget
Give every team the same purse in points. A simple sizing rule: squad size × an average of about 70 points, plus some headroom. For 10-player squads, 1,000 points works well. Then group players into three or four categories with one base price each:
| Category | Who | Base price |
|---|---|---|
| Star | Regular league players, known match-winners | 100 |
| Experienced | Plays most weekends | 50 |
| Casual | Plays occasionally | 20 |
| Newcomer | First tournament, all welcome | 10 |
Players can rate themselves in the registration form; the committee adjusts. For bid increments, purse sizing and a rules template, see how to conduct a cricket auction.
Keep it fair and fun
- Captains as icon players. Assign each captain to their team before bidding at a fixed price, so nobody bids on them.
- Squad limits. A maximum squad size stops one team buying everyone. Use the per-team limit (shown as "overseas" in the settings) for any player group you want spread out, for example guest players or players from the company cricket club.
- Say the purpose out loud. The price is about cricket form, not anyone's worth at work. Points instead of rupees keeps it light.
- Everyone gets picked. Bring unsold players back in a second round at a lower base price, then let teams short of players pick the rest at base price.
- A neutral auctioneer. Someone from HR or the events committee, not a captain.
Include remote and other-office colleagues
Hybrid teams can follow every bid live:
- Video call: open the auction's live view in a browser tab and share it in Microsoft Teams, Zoom or Google Meet.
- Stream: add the overlay to OBS and stream to an unlisted YouTube video, then post the link on the intranet or Slack. Streaming guide.
- Results page: share the public results link in the company chat. It updates live with every squad and price.
Planning timeline
| When | What |
|---|---|
| 3–4 weeks before | Announce the tournament; open registration (Google or Microsoft Form: name, role, experience, photo) |
| 2 weeks before | Close registration; choose captains; fix the format, purse and categories |
| 1 week before | Import players into the auction, add team names and logos, share the rules with captains |
| 2–3 days before | Practice auction of 3–4 players with the operator; test the screen and stream |
| Auction day | Run the auction (90–120 minutes), share results the same evening |
Run-sheet for the day
- Welcome (5 min): purpose, rules, how bidding works. Show every team's purse on screen.
- Star category first (20–30 min): the big bidding wars set the mood.
- Short break with the live summary on screen, so captains can see squads and remaining purses.
- Remaining categories (40–60 min). Keep it moving: the operator enters bids with one key press per team.
- Unsold round, then finish the auction and show the final summary.
- Share the results page and the exported squads with the sports committee for fixtures and T-shirts.
Ready to set it up? See how the software works or create your auction.
Frequently asked questions
Should a corporate cricket auction use money or points?+
Points. No real money changes hands at work, and points avoid any awkwardness about colleagues being 'worth' rupees. Give every team the same points purse, for example 1,000.
Who should be the team owners?+
Usually the captains, nominated by department or chosen by the organising committee, plus one co-owner each. Captains are often assigned to teams before the auction as icon players so they are not bid on.
How do remote or other-office colleagues watch?+
Share the live view or overlay link in your Teams, Zoom or Google Meet call, or stream to an unlisted YouTube video and post the link on your intranet. Bids appear for everyone within a fraction of a second.
How long does an office auction take?+
About 1 to 2 minutes per player. A 60-player auction fits in an evening slot of 90 minutes to 2 hours, including the welcome and a summary break.
Can we keep teams balanced across departments?+
Yes. Either mix all departments in one pool (most balanced), or keep department teams and use the auction only for players outside the core group. Squad limits stop any team from hoarding players.
Is this free for company tournaments?+
Yes, Cricket Auction Live is free while in early access, with no installs. IT teams only need to allow the website in the browser.
Run your next auction with Cricket Auction Live
Free while in early access. Set up teams and players tonight and run a practice auction.
More guides
What to look for, and how Cricket Auction Live runs an IPL-style auction end to end.
A step-by-step guide: purses, base prices, bid increments, rules and auction-day checklist.
A quick auction for turf and friends leagues: squad sizes, a points purse and simple rules.
Add the overlay to OBS, connect YouTube and go live.