The Indian Premier League (IPL) may be headed for South Africa, following the governing council tiring of no definite response from the government on whether the tournament can be held from next month or not.Some IPL officials also feel there is no point in antagonising the government beyond a point. “No one wants to keep taking on the establishment. This matter is increasingly becoming a poll issue, and we want to stay away from politics,” a top Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) official said. Another said that if the IPL did move, it would be a one-off affair and it would remain “Indian in character”.

Following a teleconference among key IPL officials on Saturday, an emergency meeting of the BCCI working committee was called on Sunday in Mumbai. One of the proposals, among several alternatives that could be considered, is expected to be the move to South Africa.

Franchise owners were sounded out about this on Saturday and are likely to meet with IPL-BCCI officials after the Sunday meeting. “It’s not the best solution, but it’s better than not holding the event,” a franchise official told Hindustan Times.

“In terms of logistics, it will not hit either the IPL or the teams too much. IMG — the company that manages the IPL — has an office in Johannesburg. Flying players and officials to South Africa will be the biggest expenditure,” a team owner said. But the IPL is expected to subsidise all parties and work out a revenue-sharing deal.

Though both IPL and Cricket South Africa (CSA) officially denied the move, sources said IPL chief Lalit Modi had had informal talks with CSA chief Gerald Majola. Reports from South Africa said cricketers’ association chief Tony Irish confirmed the talks.

A South African official told HT that a meeting between IPL officials — reportedly already en route to South Africa — and CSA was expected in Johannesburg on Sunday.

Reports indicated that CSA would not be averse to hosting the event, not just because of the revenue but also because it would show that South Africa was capable of hosting an international event.

Next year’s football World Cup, due to be held in South Africa, has been plagued by doubts over whether the crime-ravaged country is safe. A successful IPL could silence critics.

The three-and-a-half hour time difference between South Africa and India could work to the IPL’s advantage. They might start games early evening South Africa time to coincide with prime time in India.

It is believed that 12 venues in South Africa could be made available, with the northern part of the country preferred because of better weather conditions.

If the tournament does move, it is expected to start around the third week of April, after the end of the South Africa-Australia one-day series.
Source – hindustantimes.com

In the battle between the Indian Premier League and Elections 2009, Home Mnister P Chidambaram has made clear that elections are a clear priority over the cricket series.

Speaking with Karan Thapar on Devil’s Advocate, Chidambaram said he would leave the decision of rescheduling the league to the organisers and that the states cannot compromise on forces promised for elections.

“It is the responsibility of the state governments to provide security to the IPL matches. I have made it very clear that I cannot exempt any state government from committing the number security forces for elections that they have promised and that I can’t spare any paramilitary forces,” he said, adding, “Elections are unquestionably more important than the IPL”.

When Karan Thapar asked if the Home Minister wanted the organisors to reschedule/pull out on their own, Chidambaram said, “They are patriotic people. I think they will take a call.”
Source – cricketnext.in.com

Speaking to media persons at the BCCI office this morning, Lalit Modi, Indian Premier League (IPL) commissioner said that the media must not encourage reports of the IPL being cut short.
“Why do you keep speaking of the IPL being truncated? There is no question of a shorter version of the IPL. We have many options for venues. We are working to come out with the final schedule.” He added that there were a large number of backup options for the schedule.

“We have back up after back up after backup,” he said.Modi was at the BCCI reportedly for an emergency meet with other officials of the cash-rich Twenty20 tournament in Mumbai to work out a final schedule for the second edition of the tournament. Sources revealed that he also met Sharad Pawar. The dates are likely to be out tomorrow.

A meeting of the working committee of the board will be held on Sunday (March 22) at the board officeThe meeting is said to be is response to the fact that many state police officials – including the Maharashtra Police – have expressed reservations about providing security to the high-profile players, in which some matches, clashed with the Lok Sabha elections.

The schedule for the tournament that was to be held from April 10-May 24 has been changed three times as the Home Ministry expressed security concerns about holding the tournament at the same time as the General Elections. The latest schedule is yet to get the final approval from the Home Ministry.

Meanwhile there has been no conclusion on the legal battle that BCCI has been fighting with Multi Screen Media (MSM) over telecast rights. Sources say negotiations are still on for an out of court settlement between the two parties.
Source – business-standard.com

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and broadcaster Sony have failed to reach an out-of-court settlement over the telecast of Indian Premier League (IPL). BCCI had terminated the contract with Sony last week.

We had agreed on various commercial terms, but if we agree to a non-terminable contract, we cannot terminate the arrangement even in case of a serious breach. No one can accept that,” IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi told cricinfo.com.

The matter is currently being heard by the Bombay High Court.

The BCCI had terminated the contract on Saturday last week, claiming that the broadcaster had repeatedly violated integrity of telecast by prematurely cutting to breaks and inserting commercials during a live match, replays and other on-field actions.

Rohit Gupta, president of network sales at Multi Screen Media Pvt Ltd (MSM), refused to comment on the development. But MSM, which holds the IPL contract under the Sony umbrella, was apparently prepared to compensate the IPL for further violations of contract, if any, but the league did not agree, the website reported.

Source – business-standard.com

The amount being discussed is $1.026 billion over 10 years.
The Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) and Multi Screen Media
(MSM) Pvt Ltd (formerly Sony Entertainment Television) may resolve their dispute over domestic telecast rights for Indian Premier League (IPL) out of court.

Sony, which took the BCCI to the Mumbai High Court against cancellation of the broadcast deal by the former, is said to be in intense talks with the board to resolve the matter.

In response to a text message sent to him, Lalit Modi, chairman and commissioner of IPL, said he could not confirm if a settlement had been reached.

“To my knowledge, no settlement has been reached yet,” said a lawyer close to the development. “But it is true that the two parties are discussing. We are hoping that an amicable settlement can been reached soon.”

The lawyer confirmed that the amount being discussed was $1.026 billion over 10 years.

Rohit Gupta, president, network sales and revenue management, MSM, said: “I would not like to comment on any issue pertaining to IPL.”

However, several other private channels, like ESPN, are in touch with the BCCI and World Sports Group (WSG), the Mauritius-based sports management company that got the BCCI contract after the IPL organiser terminated the deal with Sony on March 14.

Last week, Sony moved the high court seeking an injunction against the latter’s attempts to negotiate a fresh contract. The BCCI claimed it had already signed a deal with WSG. The court told the BCCI not to sign any new contract till the matter was resolved.

WSG bought the rights for IPL’s second season for Rs 335 crore ($66m), 50 per cent more than what Sony had paid last year. Meanwhile, the court on Wednesday reserved its order on the case filed by MSM.

With IPL already in a fix over problems over its schedule coinciding with the coming general elections, Modi is trying hard to salvage the multi-million-dollar T20 tournament. The home ministry has asked the organiser to redraw the schedule for security reasons.
Source – business-standard.com