South Africa/India

South Africa to host India Premier League cricket

Article published on the 2009-03-25 Latest update 2009-03-25 13:54 TU

India's Sachin Tendulkar celebrates scoring his 42nd test century on day three during the first test cricket match against New Zealand, in Hamilton, 20 March
(Photo: Reuters)

The Indian Premier League (IPL) will take place in South Africa this year, following an announcement by the heads of Cricket South Africa, Gerald Majola, and of the IPL, Lalit Modi, in Johannesburg on Tuesday. The news brought to an end days of speculation over whether England or South Africa would host the event.

The tournament will take place over five weeks from April to May and will be played in six venues with the opening ceremony planned for Cape Town. Matches will also be played in Durban, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth and will be broadcast live by South Africa’s Supersport channel.

Modi described the decision to move the highly-lucrative Twenty-20 event outside India as “one of the one of the hardest decisions that the Board of Control for Cricket in India has had to take,” but said he was confident that “staging it in South Africa will be a major success”.

The Twenty20 tournament clashes with general elections in India which raised concerns that there would not be sufficient security available for an event that attracts the top names in the game.

Majola said it was a great honour to host one of the world’s top sporting events.

A good exchange rate, better television rights and a speedy visa system have all been given as reasons for South Africa’s triumph over England.

Modi said that the bad English weather was also a deciding factor.