CSA was not relying on IPL revenue, says Lorgat

Announcement this week that series would be played in Gulf states ended widespread speculations over hosting of event

Cricket South Africa was not relying on the revenue that would have been generated had the latest edition of the IPL been played in South Africa, according to CSA chief executive Haroon Lorgat.

Lorgat told the Afrikaans daily Beeld that it made sense for India to organise the tournament closer to home in the United Arab Emirates rather than South Africa.

Lorgat also denied allegations that there had been negotiations behind the scenes in which CSA's initial objections to proposals giving India, Australia and England greater power at the ICC were reversed in order to secure IPL-7.

The announcement this week that the series would be played in the Gulf states ended widespread speculations over hosting of the event.

The IPL's second season was played in South Africa in 2009 due to security concerns around general elections in India at the time.

The series generated unprecedented income for CSA, which even President Jacob Zuma acknowledged at the closing ceremony.

Speculation was rife that with elections again taking place in India this year, the BCCI would again approach CSA.

The tensions between the two bodies began when CSA appointed former ICC chief executive Lorgat to the current position last year despite objections by BCCI.

Lorgat had been at loggerheads with the BCCI during his tenure at the ICC.

The relationship was further strained when Lorgat was accused of having orchestrated a report by former legal head of the ICC David Becker, which was scathing on the BCCI.

Lorgat was cleared of the charges in an independent investigation conducted by the ICC last week.