IPL 5 to get underway from April 4 in 2012

Undeterred by the criticism over a long tournament in its fourth year, the IPL will follow the same pattern in its fifth season when it gets underway on April 4, 2012.

The tournament will have 74 matches, over a period of 54 days with. It will conclude on May 27, 2012.

"We are happy to confirm the opening and closing dates of IPL 2012, ten months in advance. The match-schedule will be announced soon," IPL chairman Chirayu Amin said in a media release.

Amin said he was sure that the fifth season will be a successful one.

"We have no doubt that the fifth season of IPL will be as, if not more, eventful and exciting than the previous ones," he said.