Jaipur to host India-SA ODI, IPL 3 matches

Mumbai:

Having lost the October 25 India-Australia ODI to Vadodara because of infighting in Rajasthan Cricket Association, Jaipur is likely to host India's first ODI against South Africa next year, BCCI Tour and Fixture Committee chairman Lalit Modi said here on Friday.

"I'm going to recommend to the committee, which is meeting next week, that Rajasthan should get first allocation for the the South Africa match because they missed their turn last time," Modi said after his meeting with RCA President CP Joshi during the BCCI Working Committee meeting here.

"RCA should get the first allocation. They are the first in turn now and in principle we have decided that the match should go to RCA. I will recommend it but can't confirm it right now," he added.

Modi, also the Indian Premier League commissioner, announced that Ahmedabad would host Rajasthan Royals' first four home matches in the IPL.

"We have decided that out of the seven matches to be played in IPL for Rajasthan Royals, three matches in the later half will be played in Jaipur as some upgradation needs to be done in the stadium there," he said.

"Ahmedabad has already done a lot of work because most of the matches were allotted there. From next year onwards we are hoping that all matches will be moved to Jaipur," he added.

Asked on his meeting with Joshi who defeated him for the post of RCA president in an acrimonious election recently, Modi said he would do anything for the good of Rajasthan cricket.

"It is not a compromise. It is for the good of cricket. Joshi, after winning the elections of RCA as a president attended his first meeting and we had a lengthy discussion on what should be done for the growth of cricket in the state," Modi said.

"The idea is that cricket should develop and prosper in Rajasthan. We are looking forward to develop it in other centres of the state like Jodhpur and Udaipur," he said.

Appreciative Modi's gesture, Joshi said, "We together will create conducive environment so that cricket in Rajasthan prospers. We appreciate the gesture of the IPL chairperson."

Modi also said that a decision to include Test matches during South Africa's forthcoming tour of India will be taken next week.

"The matter will be taken up during the Tours and Fixtures Committee meeting scheduled next week or in ten days. We wanted to have that meeting today but unfortunately all the members could not be present," he said.