The ambiguity over payment for player-retention was the main reason why most of the IPL franchises could not retain the players, who played for them in the earlier IPL editions, RCB owner Vijay Mallya said today.

"Most of the Franchisees wanted to retain four domestic and four international players but IPL Governing Council came out with a formula that you can retain a maximum of four overseas players.

"And in doing so, we (GC) will deduct a specified amount from your auction amout. So, if you retain four players, four-and-a-half million was reduced. But it did not tell, how much we have to pay to the players. Once a player is retained then the contract is between the player and Franchisee," Mallya said after the auction today.