BCCI to finalise IPL venues after elections schedule announcement

Zee Media Bureau

Bhubaneshwar: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday said it will take a call on the venues for forthcoming IPL 7, only after Election Commission of India`s announcement of schedule for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The decision was taken by the BCCI working committee which met here on Friday. “Final decision on IPL`s venue to be taken after the schedule of general elections is announced”, said BCCI president N Srinivasan. "If necessary, part of the matches would be played abroad. IPL chairman Ranjib Biswal has informed that South Africa, Bangladesh and UAE have expressed interest to host the matches," he added. While South Africa is the front-runner having had the experience of hosting the second season of IPL, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is also among the countries being considered for the event to be held between April 9 and June 3. The first part of the Twenty20 league is likely to be played out of the country and will return in May for the last leg. But there is immense pressure from the sponsors on the BCCI to host majority of the matches in India. South Africa hosted the second edition of IPL in 2009 due to Indian parliamentary elections then and this time also they are the front-runners to host the lucrative league. Earlier, Ministry of Home affairs expressed its inability to provide security for the tournament due to the impending Lok Sabha elections set for any time between April and May. (With Agency Inputs)