Modi planning US Empire
Feb 08 2010 - 13:43:20
Indian Premier League chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi has confirmed plans to stage tournaments outside India, with the League taking a particular interest in the United States.
The 2009 IPL was eventually forced to move from India to South Africa because of security concerns surrounding the country's elections taking place at the same time, but the success of the tournament has persuaded League chiefs to further explore global opportunities.
"There are plans in the works to hold IPL matches overseas and we hope to be able to provide fans all around the world with the live IPL cricketing carnival experience," said Modi. "We are looking at a shorter version of the league post the IPL seasons, which will help us take the game to the fans across the globe. Initially we are looking at markets which have large Indian and cricket loving populations such as USA, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Bangkok, Middle East, Canada and others."
He added: "We will also host a few matches in the US in the next 18 months or so. My team have started examining venues and dates which may be available for this in the summer months. The duration for all these tournaments will be short and compact.
"Along with these markets, South Africa will undoubtedly be high on our priority list after seeing the astounding response we received during IPL season 2009. The remarkable success achieved there will obviously see us want to go back there soon."
Meanwhile, Modi maintains "there is no reason to worry" amid security concerns surrounding this year's event.
India's cricket chiefs on Sunday met with the leader of a far right political party in an effort to seek guarantees on the issue of safety of Australia's players during the IPL.
Modi explained: "As for the security threats being sighted by various players associations - please let me remind you that India is a safe and sovereign nation very capable of looking after its own security.
"We have after all played host to major events in the recent past - like the successfully concluded inaugural Champions League Twenty20, where a lot of the players who are likely to play in the IPL had already participated."