Now, this addictive mix of Bollywood and Twenty20 cricket will head overseas, in all probability to South Africa or England
By noon on Sunday it was clear that the Indian Premier League (IPL) wouldn’t be held in the country. Now, this addictive mix of Bollywood and Twenty20 cricket will head overseas, in all probability to South Africa or England. Back home fans will have to make-do by catching the action on television. In India, the matches will be shown live at 4 pm and 8 pm IST.
The final straw that led to the IPL being relocated was the back-tracking by state governments of Maharashtra, where 18 matches were scheduled, and Andhra Pradesh after home ministers of both states reneged on their promises.
While sharing space with franchisee owners, Vijay Mallya, T Venkat Ram Reddy, Nita Ambani, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Shashank Manohar made it clear that all eight IPL teams would have to make themselves at home abroad. “We made the best of our endeavours to see that the event takes place in India.
However, because of the attitude of the governments, particularly those of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, we were forced to move the event out of India,” Manohar said.
The franchisee owners have thrown their weight behind the BCCI. Ambani, who owns the Mumbai Indians, said, “We don’t want to stop the IPL from happening. We are ready to take the sport to an overseas venue.” Kolkata Knight Riders’ Shah Rukh Khan said, “All eight team owners have decided to stick together.”
Mallya stated that he was happy that the ‘show would go on’. “The IPL and the BCCI have promised us that the best interests of the franchisees will be protected.”
IPL commissioner Lalit Modi confidently stated that ‘all the owners are fully in tune with the decision’. Modi has all along stuck to this stand that all 59 games of the Twenty20 league will be held. “This won’t be a truncated tournament. It continues to be the Indian Premier League.
Unfortunately, we cannot play it in India because of election related issues. It will be back in India next year. We need to take into account that there needs to be continuity in the league. It is now a domestic tournament being held at an international venue,” Modi said. Modi stated that the IPL would ‘underwrite’ everything. “The franchisees have nothing to worry. A final decision on the venue of the second edition of the IPL will be taken in 24 hours.”
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