South Africa named host for IPL-2

Johannesburg, Mar 24 (PTI) South Africa was Tuesday
chosen to host the second edition of the Indian Premier League
which has been shifted out of India because of security
apprehensions.

The decision to hold the lucrative Twenty20 tournament
was taken after a meeting between IPL commissioner Lalit Modi
and Cricket South Africa CEO Gerald Majola at an undisclosed
venue.

Although no official announcement has been made yet,
sources said that the tournament will be held between April 18
and May 24, a delay of about one week from the original
schedule.

Eight venues have been identified for staging the
eight-team tournament and the matches will start at 4 pm IST
and 8 pm IST to make it convenient for Indian television
viewers.

Modi and Majola are scheduled to hold a press conference
at 8.30 pm IST where the details of the tournament are
expected to be announced.

South Africa pipped England as the venue after the Board
of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided to shift the
tournament outside India because of security issues in view of
the general elections.

England was initially tipped to be the front-runner but
the wet weather there during April and May swayed the IPL
officials to consider South Africa as the preferred venue.

Another reason for England's chances receding is the
assurance from South Africa government and CSA officials that
the tournament will receive full support.

South Africa was considered to be a better option because
the cost of running the tournament would be substantially less
than in England and their domestic event would have concluded
by the time IPL began, sources said.