Security and polls have kept IPL in headlines, for past weeks and all for wrong reasons. Even after renovating schedule, to liking of nation security officials and politicians, IPL authorities are facing ordeal task of getting the go – ahead from union home minister.
Adding fuel to fire, speculations are rife among media contingent, that if IPL is not feasible in India, it could most likely be transferred to South Africa or England. Even earlier there were rampant rumours, that champions trophy T 20, would have its league matches in India and finals would be played in England Lords, but whole tournament got abandoned due to terror attacks in India.
It is said that, IPL have only three options now to bank on. One is to have a truncated tournament, next one is to conduct the tournament in South Africa or England and third one is to call off the tournament.
South African Cricket chief Majola, denied any offers from IPL authorities in staging the tournament in South Africa. It’s a well known fact, that Kolkata Knight Riders have expressed their desire to conduct few of their matches in Bangladesh, where they have a huge fan following in mere future.
In fact it won’t be surprising, if one could see IPL shuttling across horizon in this edition or in any editions in future. In fact IPL has been purchased for broadcasting rights in North America and South America is a testimony of its rampant mania of IPL on people.
Even franchises sounds to be open on any options of IPL, which authorities give them, even if it’s hosting matches abroad, other than cancellation of tournament. They expressed their concerns stating, that if tournament gets cancelled, then it will put IPL business model into a big question mark and them into a serious jeopardy.
Though transfer of tournament abroad it will bring other issues like sharing of gate revenues, ground advertisements revenues and broadcasting etc, but authorities are very much keen in breathing life to tournament than being concerned about those petty issues and revenues.
Franchises have already sent their teams abroad, for training and honing their skills. For instance, recently eight Mumbai Indian players were trained under Shaun Pollock in south Africa, along with Jonty Rhodes their fielding coach. Even Kolkata Knight Riders have sent their teams for Australia for practise and training.
So clearly day is not far away, when IPL travels horizons and become a global tournament than being merely being confined to an Indian spectacle.
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