Overseas Plans for IPL

The Indian Premier League is set to stage tournaments outside India, chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi has confirmed.

Security concerns surrounding the country's elections eventually forced the 2009 IPL to move from India to South Africa, but the success of the competition has caused IPL bosses to consider other hosting opportunities.

The United States is at the top of Modi's hitlist, with the USA Cricket Association keen to promote the Twenty20 format of the sport, while other Asian territories, North America and the Middle East are also involved in the IPL's plans.
Plans

"There are plans in the works to hold IPL matches overseas and we hope to be able to provide fans all around the world with the live IPL cricketing carnival experience," said Modi.

"We are looking at a shorter version of the league post the IPL seasons, which will help us take the game to the fans across the globe. Initially we are looking at markets which have large Indian and cricket loving populations such as USA, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Bangkok, Middle East, Canada and others.

"We will also host a few matches in the US in the next 18 months or so. My team have started examining venues and dates which may be available for this in the summer months. The duration for all these tournaments will be short and compact.

"Along with these markets, South Africa will undoubtedly be high on our priority list after seeing the astounding response we received during IPL season 2009. The remarkable success achieved there will obviously see us want to go back there soon."

Meanwhile, Modi has played down security concerns surrounding this year's event after India's cricket chiefs met with the leader of a far right political party on Sunday in an effort to seek safety guarantees for Australia's IPL players.

Former Board of Control for Cricket in India president and International Cricket Council president-in-waiting Sharad Pawar along with current BCCI president Shashank Manohar met with Balasaheb Thackeray, the head of the Shiv Sena party, to request a withdrawal of threats to disrupt IPL games in Mumbai.

Shiv Sena had threatened to attack Australian players signed with numerous IPL teams in response to attacks on Indians in Australia.

Threats

The latest threats have come after the opening ceremony and opening match of the 2010 IPL scheduled for March 11 were moved from Hyderabad to Mumbai last month due to security worries.

"As for the security threats being sighted by various players associations - please let me remind you that India is a safe and sovereign nation very capable of looking after its own security," said Modi.

"We have after all played host to major events in the recent past - like the successfully concluded inaugural Champions League Twenty20, where a lot of the players who are likely to play in the IPL had already participated.

"The IPL as always are leaving no stone unturned to ensure the safety and security of all concerned and are working cohesively with the respective boards of each of the participating countries - and will continue to do so."