Decision on venue for IPL Qualifier, Eliminator deferred

Indian Premier League authorities will ascertain whether the Tamil Nadu government will allow Sri Lankan players to play in the first qualifier and the eliminator in Chennai next month before taking any decision to shift the two crucial games to an alternative venue.

The decision to seek the views of the Tamil Nadu government, which had banned Sri Lankan players from playing IPL matches in the state in the wake of strong anti-Sinhalese sentiments, was taken at the IPL Governing Council meeting in Chennai.

The first Qualifier is scheduled at the Chepauk on May 21 and the Eliminator the following day.

It was felt that the state government's views on whether it would re-consider its stand on Sri Lankan players should be taken into account before taking a final decision.

"We will be following the correct procedure. We will first ask the state government and police commissioner on whether Sri Lankan players will be allowed to play the qualifier and the eliminator. Once we get their response, we will be in a position to take a decision," a top BCCI official said.

"If the state government allows the Lankan players, then here will be no issues and the matches will be held as per schedule," he said.

The official said that the IPL Governing Council may be forced to shift the venue out of Chennai if there is no change in the position of the state government.

Bangalore's Chinnaswamy stadium, Delhi's Feroze Shah Kotla and Pune's Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium have been shortlisted as alternative venues.

The IPL authorities are under some pressure to ensure that all the franchises will be in a position to field their best playing elevens.

The Tamil Nadu government had barred Sri Lankan players or match officials to play or officiate in Chennai in the wake of the anti-Sinhalese sentiments prevailing in the state. The Governing Council then decided to go ahead with the matches in Chepauk but without Sri Lankan players.

However, it is learnt that the franchises were not too happy with the decision but considering the logistical nightmare it would have posed to redraw the schedule with a new venue, they decided to co-operate.

The franchises want the IPL Governing Council to review the decision for these two matches, arguing that these games are crucial and it would unfair on them if they could not be in a position to field their best team.

Photograph: BCCI