Organisers of the Indian Premier League scrambled on Monday to find an emergency venue for the lucrative cricket tournament after security fears forced them to abandon the event’s home nation.

England and South Africa are regarded as the front-runners to host the IPL’s glitzy Twenty20 games from April 10 to May 24, although the United Arab Emirates and Sri Lanka are also being considered.

A decision is expected late Monday or Tuesday after hectic round-the-clock talks between IPL commissioner Lalit Modi and cricket authorities in the prospective countries.

With the 59-match extravaganza less than three weeks away, Modi and his team face a race against time to finalise the schedule and arrangements, described by one team official as a “logistical nightmare.”

The IPL, which was only founded last year, features Indian cricketers and the world’s top players in eight teams owned by Bollywood film stars and the country’s wealthiest businessmen.

But the Indian cricket board, which owns the IPL, moved the tournament abroad on Sunday after the government said it could not provide security at the same time as protecting general elections.

Modi said shifting the tournament was a “painful decision”, but that he was determined to secure a suitable alternative.

All four prospective host nations will not have a problem adjusting to the IPL’s diktat that matches start at 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm Indian time to suit the country’s huge cricket-mad television population.

But slotting in all 59 matches before May 24 to allow international teams to prepare for the World Twenty20 championships in England from June 5 will not be so easy.

Australia’s tour of South Africa does not end until April 17 — a week after the IPL’s scheduled April 10 opening — and the UAE is hosting a one-day series between Australia and Pakistan from April 22 to May 7.

In England, the IPL will clash with the domestic county programme as well as two Tests and three one-dayers against the West Indies, ending just a few days before the World Twenty20.

Sri Lanka, which has three international venues in Colombo alone, is a nearer alternative but also has security worries because of the ongoing conflict against Tamil Tiger rebels.

“It’s a logistical nightmare, but the IPL will find a way. They always do,” Delhi Daredevils’ Amrit Mathur, who runs the franchise, told AFP.

Mathur admitted however that the tournament’s aim to develop club loyalties among fans would be affected.

“Only for a year though,” he said. “The IPL will be back in India next year. These are exceptional circumstances, but I am sure it will be a great tournament wherever it is played.”

“The show must go on,” said liquor and airline tycoon Vijay Mallya, owner of Bangalore Royal Challengers. “I can’t wait for the IPL to start.”
Source – google.com

The second season of the Indian Premier League will be held outside India, the Board of Control for Cricket in India announced in Mumbai on Sunday.

The BCCI’s decision to shift the tournament out of the country came at an emergency meeting comprising its office-bearers and the eight franchise owners in Mumbai.

IPL commissioner Lalit Modi said the timing of the matches would remain the same, with the first game scheduled at 4pm IST and next at 8pm, no matter which venue they will be played at.

Basically, it would mean that the Twenty20 tournament, scheduled to be held between April 10 and May 24, would essentially become a television event.

South Africa and England are being talked about as possible venues but the BCCI is still in talks with other boards to finalise the venue.

“We will let you know about the new venue in two or three days,” BCCI president Shashank Manohar said.

The BCCI made it clear that the last straw that made them decide to shift the venue out of India was the last-minute reversal of stand by Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh governments, which had earlier given clearance for the tournament.

“The BCCI is not in a position to either play a truncated IPL or cancel the second edition of the IPL. It is a matter of great regret that, in the prevailing atmosphere, where the government is expressing concern for providing security to the IPL matches, the BCCI is left with no other option but to conduct the Indian Premier League in another country,” the BCCI said in a statement.

Manohar also made it clear that the BCCI does not expect the franchises to oppose the decision.

He also apologised to cricket fans in India, saying they were left with no other option but to shift the tournament out of the country.

“It is pertinent to understand that within the present international calendar of events, there is no other window for IPL to be played during this year.

“As it stands, immediately after conclusion of the IPL on 24th May 2009, the teams have to assemble in England on 25th May 2009 for the ICC Twenty20 World Cup, commencing from 2nd June 2009.

“Immediately after the conclusion of ICC Twenty20 World Cup, the Indian team will be leaving for West Indies to play 4 ODIs after which, the team will tour Zimbabwe for a tri-series involving India, Zimbabwe and South Africa,” the BCCI added.
Source:rediff.com

Former Aussie coach John Buchanan today said he was not at all worried about the security aspect as he believed that the BCCI and IPL commission were working hard to ensure safety of the players and the game.

Buchanan, who arrived here today to oversee Kolkata Knight Riders’ preparations for 2nd IPL’s T20 at Eden Gardens, said the terror attacks on players in Pakistan was very much shocking, which should not have happened.

But now everyone should work out how to restore normalcy and game of cricket should go ahead instead of sitting at home.

Referring to panic among the overseas players over the safety aspect in India after terror attack on Sri Lanka players in Lahore, Buchanan, also coach of KKR, said let the players decide themselve whether they want to play.

He said he was not worried about the security because he believed the BCCI and IPL Commission would do everything for safety of the players and the game.

Asked whether it was possible to play seven matches in just fifteen days, Buchanan said it was still in process and not finalised.

The West Bengal government had given green signal for IPL games at Eden Gardens between Arpil 11 to 26.

Buchanan said the IPL fixtures were not yet finalised though his side would keep this in mind.

Buchanan, who coached Australia to win two World Cup, lauded Team India’s performance in New Zealand and said after winning at home winning in overseas was wonderful.

He, however, refrained from commenting that M S Dhoni’s side was the best so far in India. ” I am not here to judge a side, ” Buchanan said.
Source – deepikaglobal.com

The BCCI’s working committee will hold an emergency meeting in Mumbai on Sunday to take a final call on the second edition of the Indian Premier League. The Twenty-20 league has been under a cloud of uncertainty because of security apprehensions.
The meeting has been called after many top state officials expressed reservations on providing security to the high profile championship as many matches being held at different venues clash with Lok Sabha elections. The schedule has been changed thrice, but it is yet to get the final approval from the Home Ministry. The Home Minister, Mr. P. Chidambaram told a TV channel that there could be problems even if the organisers avoided a clash with polling dates.
Meanwhile, the IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi said that the Premier League will not be truncated. He said IPL organisers have as many as 42 schedules ready in order to meet any eventualities.
Source – newsonair.com

Bangalore, March 21: Putting behind the disastrous IPL-2008 campaign, owner of the Bangalore Royal Challengers, Vijay Mallya on Saturday, named former England captain Kevin Pietersen to lead his franchisee’s challenge for the 2009 season.

Addressing a press-conference in Bangalore, Mallya announced his decision.

While naming Pietersen as the captain, Mallya also announced that South African all-rounder Jacques would be taking over the reins from the Englishmen, as the latter would be available for just 2 weeks.

The liquor baron also revealed said that Rahul Dravid, who had captained his side in 2008, was aware of the change in guard.The liquor baron also revealed said that Rahul Dravid, who had captained his side in 2008, was aware of the change in guard.

Dravid, who was sarcastically referred to as Test player in the slam bang version of the game last year, will not play for the entire tournament as his wife is expecting their child.

“We have a wealth of talent and expertise in our team and have six international captains to choose from,” Mallya said.

“The decision on captaincy was taken by keeping into account three considerations. One, player`s availability during each phase of the tournament; two, flexibility in selection of playing squad during the phases; and three, the fact that Dravid will not be available due to personal reasons for the entire tournament,”

Mallya exuded confidence in his team’s ability to give a good account of themselves, unlike in the inaugural season last year when they had barely managed to avoid the wooden spoon.

Stressing that his team would not be unduly hampered by Zaheer Khan’s absence (the pace spearhead moved to Mumbai Indians), Mallya vouched for his team’s firepower to overcome his loss.

“We have Praveen Kumar, Nathan Brackan, , Kallis himself, there is Anil Kumble.” Mallya said.

“Last year we struggled in our batting department. With induction of Pietersen, Jesse (Ryder), and Robin Uthappa, I think we have taken necessary measures.”

“Now we have a decent batting and a potent bowling attack,” Mallya said.

Meanwhile, Mallya said that by inducting local youngsters into the squad, he had reiterated his commitment to promotion of local talent, which, as he said, ‘was why the IPL was conceived.’

Even as Bangalore Royal Challengers has raised its IPL war-cry, the fate of the second edition of the Twenty20 extravaganza stays in limbo in lieu of General Elections scheduled during the same period across the country.

The BCCI’s Working committee would be holding an emergency meet on Sunday after IPL commissioner Lalit Modi had refuted claims of a truncated IPL.
Source – cricket.zeenews.com