IPL generates frenzy among cricket lovers in SA

The second edition of Indian Premier League (IPL), to be held in South Africa next month, has already generated a great excitement, enthusiasm and expectation among the people of the country.

Television, radio stations and the print media in the country are full of news about the extravagant event that is scheduled to begin from April 18 with first match in Cape Town and to continue thereafter until May 24.

This became clear during a radio talk show hosted by the Newsbreak Current Affairs programme on the national SABC Lotus FM radio at the weekend. The listeners jammed the show with calls, expressing their excitement and joy that they would be able to watch the world's best players and also some of the Bollywood stars.

However, a sports columnist Archie Henderson had questioned in his column "No boundaries" on the The Times daily newspaper that whether the "event will benefit South Africa as a nation?"

"It will be a stunning carnival of cricket, with dancing girls and Bollywood glamour, but will it benefit South Africa as a nation?" Henderson wrote. He claimed that Lalit Modi, the IPL CEO, pulled a "fast one" on SA by first negotiating with the English Cricket League.

But, whatever be the case, the general populace, especially people of Indian origin, are "over the moon" that the IPL is to be staged here.