South Africa to host Indian Premier League in 2014?
South Africa hosted the IPL in 2009 after the Government of India did not give permission due to security reasons during the general elections. The venue had posed a challenge for the BCCI as it was a last minute decision to shift the tournament.
There is a possiblity that South Africa will host the 2014 edition of the Indian Premier League, if the tournament is played outside India due to Lok Sabha elections. According to media reports, the BCCI have considered other options but a decision can only be taken when the elections dates are announced.
The IPL is scheduled to take place in April-May next year which in all probability will clash with the polls.
With the recent stand-off between the BCCI and Cricket South Africa, this move seems contradictory. However, sources say that South Africa have a good chance to host the IPL if an alternative venue is considered. A top BCCI official, talking to TOI, said, "The Lorgat issue is there but South Africa still are hot favourites. The new IPL chairman will also have a vote."
Sources said that the IPL governing council will address the matter after the BCCI's Annual General Meeting on September 29. It just might be too early to speculate on the venues but some of the sources maintained that should the tournament be played outside India then South Africa is the first choice.
"That is because it's a tried and tested location," said a BCCI official. However, the BCCI will do the best it can to hold the IPL on home soil.
According to sources, Sri Lanka and Malaysia were also discussed as possible hosts but only for a few matches. But the primary concern is again logistics. England were not given much consideration because of the cold climate.
There is also a concern that that if the IPL is held in a smaller country than India, it could affect the revenue stream. The BCCI official, however, said that Sri Lanka could be considered to hold some matches if the entire tournament did not clash with the elections.
"Only if some of the matches clashing with the general elections need to be relocated, Lanka can be explored," said the BCCI source.