South Africa will host the Indian Premier League (IPL) next month and in May, it was confirmed at a press conference on Tuesday.
The decision follows days of frenetic speculation over whether South Africa or England would earn the right to host the second edition of a dazzling show featuring the international stars of cricket. South Africa was chosen even before IPL commissioner Lalit Modi held talks with officials of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in London, scheduled for yesterday.
Modi and Cricket South Africa (CSA) chief executive Gerald Majola told media at the Wanderers Club that the Twenty20 tournament would be staged from April 18 into May, probably at six venues.
“To move the event outside India has been one of the hardest decisions that the Board of Control for Cricket in India [BCCI] has had to take, but I’m equally confident that staging it in South Africa will be a major success,” Modi said. “We extend a huge gratitude to our friends at Cricket South Africa for agreeing to host the Indian Premier League in such a short time. I’m sure all South African cricket fans are looking forward to the spectacle of seeing the world’s best players compete against each other in this tournament.”
“The South African public loves Twenty20 cricket and CSA successfully hosted the inaugural World Twenty20. Both these factors weighed heavily in favor of South Africa and we look forward to a successful and exciting tournament being held at venues throughout the country.” Majola said: “The organizers can be assured they have the full support of CSA structures and the South African public to stage a successful tournament.”
“This will strengthen the ties even further between South African and Indian cricket, as well as binding our nations even closer together,” Majola said. “We are looking forward to hosting some of the world’s best cricketers and we can assure them they will be provided with the very best facilities to show their skills.”
The ECB recognized that the IPL organizers had taken the practical option.
“The England and Wales Cricket Board has today [Tuesday] been thanked by the Board of Control for Cricket in India for their readiness to be a venue for the Indian Premier League,” the statement said. “Both the ECB and BCCI recognized that there were logistical issues, including climate and permanent floodlights, which made South Africa a more practical choice in the timescale available.”
Plans include shortening the tournament from six weeks to five, staging double headers and all matches to be broadcast live in South Africa by the Johannesburg-based SuperSport channel.
A CSA source said the opening ceremony is scheduled for Cape Town and Centurion, Durban, East London, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth would be the other venues.
A tournament that attracts most of the biggest names in the game is being moved from India because the dates clash with general elections and there would be insufficient security for the cricket event. Bollywood cinema stars and major Indian industrialists own the eight IPL teams and cricketers are “bought” at an auction for a tournament designed to feed the enormous Indian appetite for their favorite sport.
South Africa beat England to the hosting rights because of several factors, including weather, finances, television rights and the speedy issuing of more than 1,000 visas. Rain is less likely to affect matches in South Africa than England during the tournament period and with US$1 worth almost 10 rand it is an attractive option financially.
Johannesburg-based sports channel SuperSport holds the rights to IPL and international cricket in South Africa, clearing a huge hurdle. CSA sources said another factor that favored South Africa was government assurances that the 1,000-plus visas required would be processed swiftly and the tournament would receive “red-carpet treatment.”
Majola and Modi have developed a close personal relationship through various cricket projects, including the formation of the Twenty20 Champions League last year.
With the IPL heading for South Africa, the country becomes the center of the cricket world with Australia touring until April 17 and a 12-nation qualifying tournament for the 2011 World Cup starting next Wednesday. The International Cricket Council eight-nation Champions Trophy, the second biggest tournament after the World Cup, will also be held in South Africa during September and October.
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