Player retention crucial for fan loyalty - Harbhajan

India offspinner Harbhajan Singh feels players should have a say in which team they would like to represent going into the fourth season of the IPL. The player contracts signed so far were valid only for the first three years and there is speculation over whether teams will be allowed to retain players ahead of the upcoming season, which will also feature two new teams.

"I believe in the Premier League, players have a choice to pick or reject offers to play for a certain team," Harbhajan said. "If no player is allowed to continue with his team, poora team toot jayega (the whole team will break)."

Harbhajan was concerned team loyalty and fan following would suffer if star players migrated from their current teams. "People associate me with Mumbai Indians. And I have some fan following being a Mumbai Indians player. If all players are going to be auctioned again, there won't be any team loyalty. But then, big guys are going to set the rules of the new process."

The Pune coach Geoff Marsh is against player retention since it would represent a significant disadvantage to the new franchises. While Harbhajan's loyalties lie firmly with Mumbai, he does not think playing for Pune would be very different. "I play for the Mumbai Indians. Like Pune, even Mumbai is in Maharashtra. So there is not much difference," he said.

Harbhajan paid tribute to retiring Sri Lankan offspinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who tipped Harbhajan as the only bowler likely to challenge his Test wicket tally. "No one can touch Muralitharan's record in Tests. It's sweet of him to say that. But realistically, I'm nowhere near that. I have learnt so many things from him. We will surely miss him."