Johanesburg, March 25: The decision to move the India Premier League 2009 to South Africa was “one of the hardest decisions that the BCCI ( Board of Control for Cricket in India) has ever had to take”, Lalit Modi, chairman and commissioner of the IPL, told a press conference in Johannesburg as he jointly announced the decision with Cricket South Africa chief executive Gerald Majola.
“But I am equally confident that staging it here will be a massive success for us,” Modi said on Tuesday evening.
“When I came here for the ICC World Cup in 2007, I was struck by the massive passion of the fans and the great enthusiasm for the game of T20. It was actually the T20 games that took place in South Africa that led to the Indian Premiere League and its success, with India winning it at that point in time.
“This passion, combined with world class facilities and excellent administration meant that my colleagues and I at the BCCI fully believe that the 2009 IPL will be a wonderful success in South Africa,” Modi said.
The series is expected to start April 18, with details of venues and other logistics, including a schedule, to be finalised within the next two days.
—-Agencies