Hosts calm before the storm

Perhaps it's just calm before the storm, but it seems as though there's not enough buzz around the Indian Premier League's (IPL) organisation in South Africa. With only four days to go, you would expect administrators to be caught up in a whirlwind of documentation, eyes red and puffy from burning the candle at both ends, ears permanently attached to mobile phones and heart rates beating faster than a batsman about to face Dale Steyn. Not so. South African administrators are at ease as the 59-match tournament looms.

Presumably South Africa's managers have every reason to be so laidback about staging a big event; they've done it all before. Elize Lombard, chief executive of the Titans franchise, said the IPL is essentially a continuation of the South African season. Having just hosted the Australians for three months, the South African stadiums, pitches, outfields and dressing rooms, while weary from their long season, are ready.

Cassim Docrat, CEO of the Durban-based Dolphins franchise, summed up the organisation of the event quite simply: "We are waiting on the IPL organisers; they will be giving us the plans." Other CEOs made similar comments. Lombard was among them, saying the blueprint for the tournament would be handed down by the IPL and that it would be largely uncomplicated. "They are just bringing what worked in India to South Africa," she told Cricinfo.

The IPL have set up offices at the Wanderers but, with just a few days to go before the event, very few staff members could be found there. It's certainly not the hive of activity expected around an event that had a little over three weeks to relocate countries. In fact, a few journalists who wandered in to check on the progress of their accreditation were met with lethargic responses. The sleepiness matched the general atmosphere of the stadium, which is preparing for South Africa's final one-day international against Australia on Friday.

Despite having that match as his first concern, chief groundsman Chris Scott does have the IPL in mind. He admitted the three pitches he would be using may take a bit of bruising but said it wouldn't be a problem because the tracks wouldn't recover during this period anyway because of winter. Scott's major challenge will be to keep the outfield healthy. "Even though there isn't a lot of rain about, the superb irrigation system should assist in that," he said. The field looks in mint condition and every bit as lush as it does during the summer months.

The rest of the Wanderers appeared as tranquil as day five of a Test match headed for a draw, perhaps with a few more cars than usual. Security officials strolled the perimeter and barely anyone even blinked as the Bangalore Royal Challengers practised.

It seems the teams are also staying below the radar. Amrit Mathur, the CEO of Delhi Daredevils, was the only team official who could be reached. He said the Delhi camp had not been inundated with fans swamping the hotel lobby, as is characteristic here when Asian teams tour. Mathur said the team "barely noticed anything", referring to the lack of hype surrounding the tournament. The team had not been out much and had, in fact, largely travelled between the hotel and practice sessions at the Wanderers stadium. He expects the vibe to pick up once the competition gets underway. "People have a lot of expectations around this event so we expect the interest will pick up and be sustained throughout the tournament."

The hype has certainly yet to take off. The only sign that the IPL has come to Johannesburg are a few bright yellow posters in the streets around the Wanderers. "The heat is coming," the advertisements proclaim. Little do they know a blistering, cold winter is about to hit the City of Gold.

Despite the seemingly serene environment leading up to the tournament, there was one issue of contention last week, when the IPL clashed with Cricket South Africa over the use of corporate suites. The IPL wanted exclusive use of the suites for its guests, while the stadiums had obligations to their suite holders. Despite the IPL offering the suite holders free stand tickets, food and beverage to the games, some threatened to lock their suites. Lombard says the matter is resolved at her stadium, while Alan Kourie, CEO of the Lions, told Cricinfo his board would be meeting on Wednesday night to discuss the matter.

While the only bit of action in Johannesburg appears to be the administrators' tussle over stadium suites, Cape Town is looking a little livelier. The warm-up match between the Rajasthan Royals and the Cape Cobras drew 10,000 people to the stands - a bigger crowd than most domestic matches produce. The opening ceremony, which takes place at Newlands on Saturday, is said to be sold out, along with a double header there on Sunday. Perhaps the storm is brewing around the IPL after all.