The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) was skipped this season because of a match-fixing scandal but Indian Premier League (IPL) organisers have indicated that a part of the tournament, also tainted with match fixing, may be held in Bangladesh.
Lack of sufficient security cover for IPL because of the Indian general election has forced the organisers to look for alternatives. The IPL will commence on April 16 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The UAE will host the first leg of this year’s Indian Premier League cricket (IPL), the organisers said on Wednesday.
The lucrative Twenty20 tournament this year clashes with the parliamentary election in the world’s biggest democracy.
A staggering 814 million Indians will vote from April 7 in what would be the world’s biggest electoral exercise.
Voting will be held in nine stages, staggered until May 12, and results are due to be announced on May 16.
With poll security being the government’s priority, UAE would host at least 16 IPL matches from April 16-30, the Indian cricket board said in a statement without naming the venues.
Local media claimed Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah would host those matches.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has approached the interior ministry for permission to host the May 1-12 matches in states where polling would be over, but has kept Bangladesh as a standby in case the government is unable to provide security.
“BCCI will abide by the decision of the authorities in this regard. If it is not possible to play in India during this period, IPL matches will be held in Bangladesh,” the board said.
The last set of matches culminating in the June 1 final would be held in India, the board said, promising to share tournament schedules soon.
South Africa hosted the second IPL in 2009 when the cash-awash tournament clashed with the multi-phased election that year.
Three Rajasthan Royals cricketers along with former Test bowler Sreesanth were apprehended on charges of spot-fixing in the IPL, the most expensive tournament in the cricket world, in last May. As other names came out some more, who were involved with the scandal, were detained.
Report from a commission under former Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal pointed out evidence against Gurunath Meiyappan, the son-in-law of N. Srinivasan – president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Meiyappan was involved with fixing matches and betting in the IPL, the 170-page report said. However, the commission suggested that more investigation was necessary against Raj Kundra, owner of Rajasthan Royals.
After the investigation report was brought to light media said that, some cricketers of the current national side is also involved in match-fixing and spot-fixing.
Source: Bd news24
I really have no objections to hosting of the IPL in Bangladesh. Just wondering. With the recent relationship between the two countries cozying up too much for comfort for many in the country, this event may not be seen as the beginning of annexing Bangladesh as a part of an increasing aggressive India too keen on flexing her muscle for recognition as a regional power by the “international community”.