Cricket hijacked
An editorial comment in the Indian Express criticises the BCCI on its decision to stage this year's IPL outside of India and says the Indian fans' interests were simply kept out of the agenda while making this move.
Siddhartha Talya
25-Feb-2013
An editorial comment in the Indian Express criticises the BCCI on its decision to stage this year's IPL outside of India and says the Indian fans' interests were simply kept out of the agenda while making this move.
Cranking up the ego war with the Government on the logistics of this IPL season, he [Shashank Manohar, the BCCI President] apologised to the “people of India”, but comforted himself by saying that at least they’d now be able to watch the tournament on television. Really, Mr Manohar? Is this truly what’s behind this effort to start a bidding war between England and South Africa to host the IPL? Because if it is the Indian fan’s benefit that’s on the agenda, the BCCI’s latest announcement amounts to little less than the cricketing equivalent of high treason.
England has been tipped as a possible host to the IPL but Patrick Kidd, in the Times, writes the ECB must overcome a whole host of problems including scheduling and TV rights in very little time before staging the tournament. Instead of getting embroiled in the chaotic mess, he feels the ECB's time and attention is better spent on preparing its team for the Ashes.
Another pothole is the question of TV rights, with the IPL coinciding with West Indies’ tour to England. Sky has the rights for the exclusive coverage of England internationals and would not welcome the competition from Setanta, which has the IPL rights and feels it was poorly treated over the bidding for England games. The ECB is in no position — or mood — to upset Sky.
David Hopps, writing in the Guardian, says the ECB will have to move quickly to make the boldest decision in its history and host the IPL.
Mike Norrish writes that with all the hurdles ahead of the ECB in trying to the host the IPL, it's perhaps better that South Africa gets the nod for staging the tournament. Read his blog in the Daily Telegraph.
Siddhartha Talya is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo