Why was IPL shifted to South Africa? – CricRepublic Exclusive

These are the sequence of events preceding the start of IPL on 18^th April, 2009.

• March 1^st, 2009: Mr. Lalit Modi loses election for the post of President in Rajasthan Cricket Association.
• March 6^th, 2009: Mr. Modi quotes that there was no question of IPL moving out of India. He further added “The IPL is a domestic tournament and will stay so”.
• March 10^th, 2009: IPL-II officially launched. New venues into consideration include Ahmedabad, Visakhapatnam, and Dharmshala.
• March 13^th, 2009: Home Ministry rejects the first revised schedule for IPL-II.
• March 17^th, 2009: New schedule submitted by dropping New Delhi, Jaipur and Vizag as venues.
• March 21^st, 2009: Maharashtra Chief Minister expresses inability to provide security for the IPL matches.
• March 22^nd, 2009: Lalit Modi after a meeting with the franchisee owners, announces their decision to shift IPL overseas; either England or South Africa.
• March 23^rd, 2009: Reports in Media suggest England is preferred destination.
• March 24^th, 2009: Announcement by Lalit Modi that South Africa will be the host.
• March 25^th, 2009: Announcement from Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) camp that they will have four captains this season.
• April 15^th, 2009: Rajasthan sends back seven of its players from SA including Mohd. Kaif; the highest bid player for Rajasthan Royals.
• April 17^th, 2009: McCullam named captain of Kolkata Knight Riders in SA just one day before the match.

Some Unanswered Questions?

1) Why did the franchisees support the decision of shifting IPL overseas although it would cost more from their pockets?

2) The move to shift IPL was taken without the consent of Home Ministry. The IPL officials thought it was necessary to submit the revised dates and ask for security cover from the government but did not feel necessary to inform the same while shifting the venue. Why?

3) Why did the KKR management announce the multiple captaincy theory immediately after the IPL was shifted overseas? It could have been announced much earlier.

4) Why was South Africa chosen ahead of England, though it’s a known fact that majority of the bookies and match fixing initiate from South Africa?

5) The reason as stated by IPL committee was that the weather in South Africa was more match friendly than in England. Up to 21^st April, 2009 the statistics suggest that 3 of the 7 matches played so far have been rain affected!

6) South Africa was chosen the host only 23 days before the tournament, but somehow the arrangements were in place for holding the event in such short notice. How?

7) What is the fun in bidding for a player (Kaif) at $6,75,000 and sending him back all the way from South Africa?

8 ) Why McCullam was named the captain of KKR in South Africa? They could have named it at the time when multiple captaincy theory was introduced in India.

9) Cheer Leaders were banned during the first season of IPL in India, although that ban did not continue during the matches being held in South Africa! Was the ban limited only to India?

The above observations and questions sow a doubt whether the shifting of IPL was pre planned or just a coincidence. Every person in India knew the general elections would be held in April-May; the IPL could have acted much earlier rather than waiting for the schedule of elections to be released. The franchisees support to overseas venue is what surprises the most.

Who lost the battle: IPL or Indian Government?

None of them, IPL is successfully being organized with houseful crowds in South Africa. Indian Government has been successful in conducting the elections safely. Then what about the battle that lasted for around 20 days? It’s the Indian audience which lost the battle. The cricket crazy crowds in India are reduced to watching the matches in the Television because of reluctance of both the government and IPL to play heed to each others request. No doubt, the general elections are of the highest priority to Government, the IPL should have been more lenient and should have come up with alternative schedules and venues or even might have considered postponing it. But IPL wanted to score a point against the government, which they successfully did.

What to Expect?

Nothing! Hopefully, this would remain only an exceptional case in the IPL history. If the organizers of the IPL are to be believed the next edition of IPL should be hosted in India. But nothing can be guaranteed given the view held by franchises and other big wigs of IPL.