Still no decision on IPL venues
The BCCI, it is understood, is exploring different avenues. South Africa is surely an option but the thinking is that the African nation could be an expensive proposition. The other option is to hold the tournament in Bangladesh and UAE simultaneously. But a final call will be taken only after the dates of the general elections are announced.
“A final decision will be taken after getting the schedule of general elections,” BCCI president N Srinivasan told reporters after the meeting in Bhubaneswar.
“If necessary, part of the matches wouldbeplayedabroad.IPLchairman Ranjib Biswal has informed that South Africa, Bangladesh and UAE have expressed interest to host the matches,” he further said.
The problems before the BCCI is that the venues in both UAE – Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah – and Bangladesh – Mirpur, Fatullah – would have been worn out by the time the IPL is staged. Bangladesh would have hosted a series against Sri Lanka, Asia Cup and World T20 while the UAE has recently hosted a series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, World T20 qualifiers and Under 19 World Cup.
The pitches in South Africa, particularly Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, Durban and Centurion, are not over exposed to international cricket. But there is a catch to South Africaaswell.Thecountrywillhaveits own general election some time in May and there is no guarantee that the local government there will extend security to an Indian league.
The IPL has kept time from April 9 to June 3 as the window for the league and hopes to stage a large part of the tournament in India.
Srinivasan has a tricky decision to take and it will be known in the next few days. Keep watching this space.
