UAE or South Africa? Here’s an update on IPL 2019’s host nation

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) reportedly are set to send a recce team to South Africa to understand the nation’s preparation to host next year’s Indian Premier League (IPL).

According to a media report, a two-member team of Hemang Amit and Navneet Kaur, will be leaving Mumbai in a day or two to explore Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth and understand their requirements for the cash-rich T20 league.

Earlier this year, Cricket South Africa, who hosted the second edition of the IPL in 2009, offered to host the IPL 2019 if required.

“If they were to propose to move it to SA‚ the easy answer to give now is yes. We would be interested in hosting the IPL.

“It remains speculation for now until such time that the government of India announces the date for elections. But there is an appetite from them to move it to either SA or Dubai,” the Chief Executive of CSA, Thabang Moroe had said.

So far, the permutations and combinations stand this way: if the Lok Sabha elections are held like it had four years back (from April 15), there may be a chance that the first 20 games will be played in India, the next 20 in the UAE and the business end of the tournament again in India.

However, if the polls are advanced, as it is being speculated in some quarters, the entire league may require a shift and that will make way for Cricket South Africa to host the IPL 2019.

It is also understood that BCCI’s two-member team of Amin and Kaur is also expected to visit Dubai on their return and discuss with the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) about hosting some IPL matches there.

While BCCI seem quite comfortable with both ECB and CSA, now it all depends on the date of the general elections and BCCI will take a final call after the date will be announced.