Weather, costs brighten SA’s chances of hosting IPL 2nd Edition
The IPL bosses have not yet decided on the new destination for IPL’s second edition. Their first preference is England but South Africa has emerged as a strong possibility.
And what is going in favour of South Africa? The weather conditions, for one. According to some, as many as 70% of the matches in England could face rain risk.
Secondly, lower costs – some estimate it will be one-third lower in South Africa. Thirdly, IPL can stick to the “home-and-away” format for the tournament as each team can be “based” in one city. And finally, the South African cricket board is keen on the tournament.
This English cricket season is packed with a lot of action – there is the England-West Indies series and the county cricket matches – which will start in the middle of the IPL event. But it’s not clashing with any of the matches and ECB is eager to get a slice of the IPL pie.
According to sources in the BCCI, the stiff demands of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) could also make things difficult.
“We understand ECB’s problem. We are in the process of finalizing the logistics and will make our schedule after Lalit Modi meets the concerned officials in South Africa and England,” a top BCCI official told TOI on Monday.
