IPL to shift venue... a thread bare analysis

It’s Hot, It’s Happening and its here again... The Indian Premiere League IPL is back and is back with a bang. A highest level of commitment and professionalism was shown by BCCI and IPL to its franchisee, fans and overall sporting community as it announced a shift of venue for all IPL matches to some other country. The selection of actual venue for IPL matches may not be of supreme importance as the fact that a tournament named as ‘Indian’ Premiere League will be conducted in a venue outside India. The IPL at the outset had a global feel but the versatility demonstrated by Mr.Modi, i.e. taking IPL out of India, just makes it an International brand rubbing shoulders with sporting events like EPL and NBA.
The point IPL proved:
To me this move comes in not only as a slap on terrorism but a slap on the fact that India is country filled with procrastinators. Where the biggest of events can be postponed and where a word like priority does not exist. With the onset of IPL season 2, the way franchisee bid for players, was itself a mockery at the face of recession and then this move is just an icing on the cake. However to any Indian, IPL’s magnanimity does not come as surprise. With the best from corporate and the glamour world joining hands, the event was bound to be disciplined, professional and off course “Filthy Rich”.
The political stance to it:
The over touted rumour that politicians are trying make big money out of it was just beginning to die when a camp chipped in with another piece of information that this move initiated by anti-Pawar lobby in Congress to hit on the power and popularity Mr.Sharad Pawar was gaining prior to election. The sheer coincidence of Lok Sabha elections with IPL’s schedule had just given a feed to ever talking experts. Based on security grounds, infrastructure for logistics and the security of overseas players, the government gave IPL a slot of 29 days to complete all of its scheduled 59 matches. This restriction had just started to threaten a complete version of IPL season 2 and did give whiffs of IPL moving out of India. What the politicians have to say on IPL is again as myriad as Indian politics itself. While the congress camp is blowing the whistle of “Mass” security, saying that the security apparatus for such a mass gathering for IPL matches along with who is who of India can be tough to manage, the BJP camp is touting it as a loss of Congress led government at the hands of Terrorism. Mr.Narendra Modi was quoted by Times of India saying “Today our country stands defeated before terror. Most BJP ruled states were ready to host IPL matches. What will happen to Commonwealth Games next year?” As a reaction to this comment, P.Chidambaram slammed both Narendra Modi and IPL together calling IPL a shrewd combination of Business and the Cricket and that there is no point mixing politics with it. As the war of words heats up, being a politically neutral individual, to me the current episode of IPL has promised much of an entertainment much before it actually kicks off!
The Franchisee and owners feel...
The move is a demonstration of commitment and professionalism towards organising of IPL matches by the BCCI and the IPL. Flanked by top Bollywood stars, in likes of Shah Rukh khan, owner of Kolkata Knight Riders and Preity Zinta franchisee of Kings XI Punjab and supported by corporate tycoons like Vijay Mallaya( Royal Challengers, Bangalore ) and Nita Ambani , the owner of Mumbai Indians, Mr.Lalit Modi is at cloud nine. To quote Mr.Modi, the moving of IPL matches out of India has been the toughest decision of his life and that he does not want to politicize it. The most politically correct response came from none other that King Khan, when he said “We have to respect the elections in our country, that is a bigger issue than our issue...”
So to which country are IPL matches moving to?
Even before IPL commissioner Mr.Lalit Modi or the BCCI chief Mr.Sharad Pawar knowing it, the indigenous Indian Media approached Cricket South Africa (CSA) chairman Mr.Gerald Majola to ask him the prospects of IPL matches shifting to South Africa. The move was becoming obvious ever since the deadlock happened on IPL schedules. However, a move to England was hinted much before all this fiasco. As Times of India proudly claims to have reported the move back in Dec 21, 2008. The factors that would be taken into consideration would be the accommodation costs, Logistics, i.e travelling of players from India to the chosen country and from one venue to another within the country, the Indian timings and the corresponding timings in the selected country and off course the Indian population. The two major venues in picture are England and South Africa. But keeping the above points in mind, English land stands out to be clear favourites for hosting IPL matches. However, the accommodation costs could be prohibitive. Notwithstanding, the huge chunk of Indian population can always give IPL the feel of ‘I’ in England. That too with England cricket board ECB CEO, Giles Clarke all gung ho about it, the IPL matches seem more likely to be shifted to England.
What is players’ reaction to it...
While Sachin Tendulkar, the Mumbai Indians captain expressed his disappointment for not being able to play before home crowd, Yuvraj Singh who is leading Kings Eleven Punjab said that he’ll abide by whatever decision BCCI takes. The Master blaster, however insisted on taking family along, as they will be returning from a long tour of New Zealand. England as venue would also mean a perfect practice spot before International Twenty 20 match. Much to Indian surprise was the reaction of Flintoff who was bought by Chennai super kings team for 1.5 million$. He expressed his disappointment as he loved to play before the packed Indian stadiums....
To be continued...