CAPE TOWN, Jan 25: Ahead of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announcing the venue for the 15th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) later next month, South Africa has reportedly thrown its hat into the ring, saying the country would be a cheaper option as compared to the UAE where the second leg of the tournament was held in 2021.
The Indian cricket board had informed its 10 IPL franchises that the venue will be finalised around February 20, with India being the front-runner and the UAE and South Africa also viable options due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Discussions are underway between the Indian board and CSA “with particular emphasis on venues for which there would be no or bare minimum air travel, cutting down on the expenses for the franchises”.
CSA has also reportedly assured that the hotel tariffs in South Africa would be “significantly cheaper than in UAE”.
As per the report, CSA has given the proposal to host the matches in four centres in and around Johannesburg. The four venues are floodlit and within driving distance from one another.
South Africa had hosted the IPL in 2009 across eight venues, but then there were no virus concerns. (IANS)
