South Africa Confirmed As Host For IPL Season 2

DLF IPL Season 2 2009
DLF IPL Season 2 2009

 South Africa has edged out England to be named host nation of the 2009 IPL. The decision was made after a meeting between the IPL commissioner, Lalit Modi, and the Cricket South Africa (CSA) chief executive, Gerald Majola, in Johannesburg on Tuesday. The IPL also announced that a final schedule for the 59 matches and the host venues for the eight franchises will be released shortly.

“The South African public loves Twenty20 cricket and CSA successfully hosted the inaugural World Twenty20,” Modi said. “Both these factors weighed heavily in South Africa’s favour, and we look forward to a successful and exciting tournament being held at venues throughout South Africa.””The South African public loves Twenty20 cricket and CSA successfully hosted the inaugural World Twenty20,” Modi said. “Both these factors weighed heavily in South Africa’s favour, and we look forward to a successful and exciting tournament being held at venues throughout South Africa.”

“We are very happy to confirm that South Africa will host the 2009 Indian Premier League,” IPL chairman Lalit Modi said in a statement following a meeting with Cricket South Africa.

The tournament will be held between April 18 and May 24, a delay of about one week from the original schedule of April 10, 2009. Modi thanked CSA for agreeing to host the Twenty20 event in such a short notice. Six 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 back home. The tournament will feature 59 matches as planned and the fixtures will be announced shortly.

Some Reasons on How South Africa got the nod to host IPL Season 2

  1. The weather was the most important factor. The IPL realised that rain could seriously affect “as many as 70% of the matches” if the tournament was held in England.
  2. Top officials within the South African government and Cricket South Africa gave assurances that the IPL will receive the full red carpet treatment.
  3. Less logistical problems as South African domestic season concludes before the IPL’s scheduled start while in England the county season will just get underway. 
  4. The cost of running the tournament in South Africa would be substantially less than in England. 
  5. Supersport owns the rights both for the IPL and for international cricket played in South Africa while there would have been a clash between Sky TV and Setanta in England.  

Related News:

South Africa To Host IPL Season 2 – Cricinfo

Why South Africa Won The Rights To Host IPL – IBN Live

South Africa will  host the Second Edition of IPL – ExpressIndia

Why England Lost The IPL Race to South Africa – The Times of India

South Africa To Host IPL Season 2 – Lalit Modi – The Times of India

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