Cape Town to Host IPL Opener

Amid security fears in the subcontinent, the second- while fellow Englishmen Owais Shah, Paul
Indian Premier League will be hosted in South Africa.Collingwood, Ravi Bopara and Graham Napier will all be
The fixtures planned for IPL2 coincided with the 2009in South Africa.
Indian general elections and as such the securityThe inaugural tournament was won by Mascarenhas'
forces were unable to cover the cricket matches.team and much of this is put down to the captaincy
The IPL is a cricket tournament in the twenty20and coaching of Shane Warne. The final went down
format and because of the vast amounts of moneyto the last ball - with the scores tied Sohail Tanvir hit
involved it appeals to many of today's players. Thethe winning run to win the match, although much of
first tournament was held in 2008 and received athe credit must go to Yusuf Pathan for getting three
mixed reception - many loved the opportunity towickets and a half century in the match.
watch some of the best cricketers in the worldWith the announcement that South Africa is to host
playing together but the tournament did clash withthis year's tournament - still called the Indian Premier
other leagues around the world as well asLeague despite its new location - cricket fans have
international fixtures, meaning some players werebeen booking flights to Cape Town to see the
banned by their clubs and countries from joining. Oneopening fixtures - first up is Flintoff's Chennai Super
such country was England - who wouldn't let theirKings against Napier's Mumbai Indians before two
centrally contracted players go - and as a result theremore Englishmen (Mascarenhas and Pietersen) come
was only one English representative, Hampshire'sup against each other in the second game of the
Dimitri Mascarenhas, in India.day. All players will be hoping to end their tour in
This year the English Cricket Board has been moreJohannesburg, where the final will be held; all, that is,
relenting and has allowed its players to join theexcept the English Test players, who have to be
league so long as they put their country first. Thisback in London before the final to take on the West
proved a happy compromise and Kevin Pietersen andIndies.
Andrew Flintoff were soon making headlines as theyThe information contained within this article is the
became the most expensive players in the auctions,opinion of the author and is intended purely for
both going for $1.5m. Flintoff was signed by theinformation and interest purposes only. It should not
Chennai Super Kings while Pietersen went tobe used to make any decisions or take any actions.
Bangalore Royal Challengers. Mascarenhas will againAny links are included for information purposes only.
turn out for Rajasthan Royals - last season's winners