Decision on IPL after election dates are out: BCCI

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Friday decided to adopt a wait-and-watch approach towards moving the Indian Premier League (IPL) out of the country due to the upcoming general elections.

After a working committee meeting here, BCCI president Narayanaswami Srinivasan said a decision on staging the IPL will be taken after the general election dates are out.

The Home Ministry has informed the BCCI that it won't be possible to provide security for the Twenty20 league that is likely to be played from April 9 to June 3. The general elections are also to be held in April and May.

The BCCI officials here decided to wait till the announcement of the poll dates before finalising the venues of the league, which will be played in two parts in India and an overseas location.

"A final decision on IPL venues will be taken after getting the schedule of the general elections," Srinivasan told reporters after the meeting.

"If necessary, part of the matches would be played abroad. IPL chairman Ranjib Biswal has informed that South Africa, Bangladesh and UAE have expressed interest to host the matches," he added.

While South Africa is the front-runner having had the experience of hosting the second season of IPL, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is also among the countries being considered for the event to be held between April 9 and June 3.

The first part of the Twenty20 league is likely to be played out of the country and will return in May for the last leg. But there is immense pressure from the sponsors on the BCCI to host majority of the matches in India.

South Africa hosted the second edition of IPL in 2009 due to Indian parliamentary elections then and this time also they are the front-runners to host the lucrative league.