IPL2: Player Reactions - IPL2 Moves to South Africa

Ex captain of South Africa, Shaun Pollock is a very happy man after hearing the news about SA being confirmed as the host for the second edition of the IPL. Shaun Pollock plays for Mumbai Indians team and most of his team members are already preparing for the tournament in South Africa.

Sachin Tendulkar, captain of the Mumbai Indian team feels that the it will not be the same as playing in India. "It is disappointing that the IPL has been moved out of India," he said. "We will certainly miss playing in front of our supporters. It won't be the same. It was a good concept to play home and away matches. This is something that the teams will miss this time around. Wherever we play, we hope to have the same fervour that we had had last season." said Sachin.

Steyn and Smith of South Africa who are currently busy playing host to the South Africans are happy to learn that the IPL governing body decided to hand them an opportunity. They promised good cricket and a bigger support from the crowds. More player reactions inside..


Yuvraj Singh, the Kings XI Punjab captain, also said that this season was going to be different from last year. He also hoped that the Indian players would be allowed to take their families to the IPL because they would have just returned from a long tour of New Zealand. "It is sad that the IPL won't be held in India. But we have to go ahead with it as it is the decision of the board," Yuvraj said. "As we would be returning home from New Zealand after a long tour, we hope we are allowed to take our families along.



Mutaih Muralitharan is happy that the matches are still on as he recovers from the attack on the team bus during their tour to Pakistan. The SriLankan players are int he recharge mode as they prepare getting back to the nets as they get ready to participate in the IPL. "I'm glad that the matches are still being played even when there were number of problems in front of the IPL working committee", Cricket had taken a back seat after the terrorist attacks on the SriLankan player in Pakistan. " We have to move on and Cricket should never stop" added Murali.

Jayawardene and Sangakaara along with other Srilankan players have confirmed their availability. Amongst other News, Lalit Modi confirmed that the Pakistani players will not be participating in the tournament following their board's disapproval of the IPL. Players who played in the ICl, a rebel league to the IPL have also been taken back into the national side and have been named in the squad for a one-day seris against Australia in Abudhabi this year.

The Indian Players should be happy with the announcement of delay in the start which allows them to have a breather in already busy schedule ahead of them. Many other young cricketers who will be a part of the IPL will use this as a opportunity to play and perform in a foreign country, A chance that they would have only gotten playing for the National side. The shifting of venue to outside of India could prove as a blessing in disguise for most of these youngsters and the BCCI as this gives them opportunity to enhance their local talent.

So hows does a fan base build when city based teams from India play in South Africa? The only hope for BCCI and the IPL will be that South African Spectators turn up to see a Greame Smith play for the the Rajasthan Royals and Shaun Pollock celebrate a wicket with Sachin Tendulkar for Mumbai Indians. It will be a dilemma for most of these spectators too, hopes BCCI. Everybody loves cricket, be it in India or South Africa, Cricket emerges winner.


The players will be missing out on the local support, but were also excited about the fact of feeling different on a different soil playing amongst a neutral crowd. The organisers of the IPL were forced to shift the tournament out of India after the government said it could not guarantee adequate security for the matches because the tournament would clash with general elections in the country in April-May. The decision to shift was taken after the IPL schedule was reworked several times and finally it was confirmed to be hosted in Sauth Africa a week later starting April 18th as against what was decided as April 10th.


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IPL2: And the Award Goes to...

The 30 day game came to an end after Mr. Lalit Modi, commissioner IPL announced South Africa as the venue to host the second edition of the world popular Indian Premier League. Elections in India forced moving the IPL out of India. South Africa edged past England to be named the host of 2009 IPL, the decision came after meeting between the IPL Committee and CSA. In a press conference hosted by the two parties in Johannesburg on Tuesday, CSA chief Gerald Majola said that he was happy that the Indian board and the organizers of IPL gave South Africa an opportunity to host the honorable tournament. The IPL also announced that the final schedule of 59 matched and the host venues will be chalked out shortly. The Tournament however will start a week later beginning from April 18 as planned against April 10 2009. More news follows...


The tournament will commence on April 18, a week later than initially scheduled, and a day after the one-day series between South Africa and Australia ends. Sources said Johannesburg, Durban, Centurion, Port Elizabeth, East London and Cape Town would be the host venues. Most news paper reports suggest Durban may play host to the opening and closing ceremonies given the presence of a larger Indian population. Logistically Jo'berg should be a great venue to start the tournament, Official news are yet to arrive and all these reports are just speculations.

Modi also thanked the ECB for lending their support in times when they needed and informed the Media that the only reason SA was chosen as the venue was because of the pleasant and predictable weather. April- May is the cold and wet season in England and if you had to go by some past history, 60 percent of the IPL matches would have been washed out if played in England, Good decision Mr. Modi.

Franchisees however presented mixed reactions, Mumbai Indians are already practicing in SA under the watchful eyes of Shaun Pollock who is more than happy for his team. "Who knows the conditions better than me?" asked pollock in a television interview when asked about what his reactions were about IPL in SA. Mumbai Indians now posses what can be call the home advantage in teh experience of Pollock. Royal Challenger owner Mr. Vijay mallaya said that he was disappointed to learn about IPL in SA,"I was hoping that we go to england than SA" said Mallay in a television interview. Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan and Priety Zinta are happy as long as the tournament is on. Rajasthan Royals team owners, Emerging media, are still hopeful of the IPL being hosted in India. If not the complete tournament at least the finals.

Muttiah Muralitharan, who plays for Chennai Super Kings, said it was the right decision for the league because "the game must go on, else cricket would die". Team India would be disappointed as it had already suggested moving IPL to England given that they are to play the T20 world cup following the IPL in England. The players now have build fitness for traveling as the team will now go to SA for the IPL, England for the T20 world cup in June and then back to the West Indies for a test and one-day series with no break in between.


With the decision now made, the real work begins. Security arrangements - which forced the tournament out of India - will need to be arranged, and an estimated 400 players and officials will require visas and accommodation. In all, 59 matches will be held over a five-week period ending on May 24. "It is very important for world cricket that this tournament is staged, but ultimately it is a matter for the BCCI where it is staged,"

Mr. Modi also informed the media about the 2 reasons why the delay in the start was made. One, They have to now put together the logistics for hosting a event of world class quality, the security arrangements for over 100 + players traveling to the country for the tournament, Movement of players from one location to the other in between matches, The fact that now more Indian fans will travel to SA for the tournament is itself a big security issues for the SA government. Two, "The players need to rest", By players he meant the national cricket team which is currently in NZ getting ready for the next test match, The 1 week delay will allow the team members to recharge for the tournament and the series ahead of them.

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