| With all its glitz & glamour, music and swaying | | | | 2009 ahead of England. |
| cheerleaders, the Indian Premier League’s second | | | | The financial aspect may interest the organizers and |
| edition is set to kick off in scenic South Africa. But as | | | | the media, but what a common cricket fan in South |
| much as the thought of watching the batsmen hit | | | | Africa will be looking for is a healthy dose of the |
| the best in the business for mighty heaves generates | | | | game and the entertainment it brings along. |
| a sense of excitement, there will definitely be | | | | Moving the IPL to an altogether new location and |
| something missing when IPL leaves its home shores | | | | that too in just a few days’ time is a humungous |
| and sets sail for the African nation. | | | | task in itself. A look at the logistics involved gives an |
| Considering the phenomenal response that the | | | | idea of the enormity of the task at hand. To |
| inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League | | | | accommodate the players, an estimated 400 rooms |
| received in whichever Indian city it went, it is hard to | | | | will have to be booked for close to six weeks, while |
| overlook the fact that the cricketing extravaganza | | | | no less than 10,000 air tickets are required to move |
| will be held minus its most important factors - the | | | | the players around. |
| thousands of cricket fanatics and the deafening noise | | | | The matches will be held at eight venues, all of which |
| associated with a big match which can be witnessed | | | | will be handed over to the IPL management after |
| only in India. | | | | the South African domestic season ends in the first |
| South Africa has a sizeable Indian population and the | | | | week of April. Cricket South Africa is confident of |
| response to any big cricket event has always been | | | | putting up a good show, which will also further |
| appreciable and that is what the organizers of IPL | | | | project the country as a safe venue to hold world |
| 2009 are hoping for. The venues have also been | | | | class sporting events, ahead of the football World |
| chosen keeping in mind the number of Indians in and | | | | Cup in 2010. |
| around the region. Durban, which houses almost 80% | | | | The matches in South Africa are likely to be low |
| of the over one and a half million Indian- origin | | | | scoring in view of the bouncy wickets and the very |
| populace in South Africa, will host 16 of the 59 | | | | little time at the disposal of the organizers to make |
| matches while Johannesburg and Pretoria, which | | | | them more batting friendly. The second season of |
| boast of around 15% Indians, have also been given | | | | the IPL in South Africa may thus see less sixes being |
| 16 matches. | | | | hit but then, a keen contest between the bat and |
| Cape Town, another South African city with a large | | | | the ball is always enthusing for a cricket fan. |
| number of people of Indian origin, will host the | | | | Security will be a major concern for the organizers |
| opening ceremony, as also the first two matches on | | | | and the government, though not as big as it would |
| April 18. | | | | have been had the tournament got a go ahead in |
| One would still be over optimistic, however, to | | | | India. Just as in India, the South Africans will also be |
| expect the same or even close to the turnout | | | | going to polls in the latter half of April, at a time |
| witnessed during the inaugural edition of the IPL. The | | | | when the IPL will be in its initial stages. |
| football and rugby seasons, that will run almost | | | | Though the matches have been scheduled to |
| parallel to IPL Cricket 2009, will also certainly have an | | | | facilitate prime time viewing for the Indian television |
| adverse impact on the attendance. | | | | audience, a successful IPL season 2 in South Africa |
| But then IPL could not have come at a more | | | | will raise needless concerns about the future of the |
| appropriate time for the South African public, who | | | | Indian Premier League, as well as other sporting |
| are reeling under the economic slump with massive | | | | events in the country. India is gearing up for a |
| job cuts. Sport is known to be a proven stress | | | | number of big events in including the Commonwealth |
| buster and would definitely bring some cheer to the | | | | Games in 2010 and the cricket World Cup in 2011, |
| gloomy faces. Not only that, sectors such as | | | | wherein security will be a big concern for the |
| hospitality, tourism and air travel will also heavily | | | | organizers. |
| benefit from the tournament. No wonder then that | | | | Let us hope that the Indian Premier League does not |
| the South African government made every attempt | | | | end up being the Indian Foreign League. |
| to win the hosting rights of Indian Premier League | | | | |