So will we be seeing the IPL in the USA or in Canada come next year? After Lalit Modi made his statement in the cricket news, this is a question being asked with bated breath in international cricket. It was the success of the tournament being held in South Africa this year that helped Modi realise how the potential for the IPL is “huge”. Modi was quoted as saying, “We have turned the challenges and adversities in moving to South Africa into an opportunity. It is fans who determine if you are successful or not and they have come out in force here. It has shown that the tournament can be in any region, in any country. This opens up many different opportunities for us."

He clarified that the first or primary season of the DLF IPL would continue to be held in India and that the IPL will continue to be based in India; however a shorter tournament abroad is what is being considered at present. Now that IPL has successfully worked I South Africa, the organisers are aware that there is the possibility of building a fan base anywhere in the world, which is the primary requirement for the IPL’s success.

"America throws up challenges but the format we have developed works. It is an opportunity for families to spend a day out. Apart from watching great cricket they have an enjoyable evening out. That will work anywhere. Before this tournament we did not know if we could do it. But we do know now. We have to satisfy an appetite across the world and build a fan base across the world," Modi said in the cricket news.

England is one possibility with South African always being an option and Modi indicated that the venues could change every year. As for the perceived danger that T20 cricket and the IPL in particular poses to test cricket, Modi said, "People who say we cannot work alongside Test cricket just don't understand. You don't need everyone available all the time. You don't need all countries to be free. In England the Premier League runs at the same time as the Spanish and Italian leagues. We can do the same. They can run concurrently. To do that we must showcase and produce our own stars. England are playing the West Indies now so those teams are out but not Australia, South Africa or uncapped England players. That is where the misunderstanding is taking place," he added. Well Modi seems to have covered all the bases; it will be interesting to see where the IPL second season will be held.

Meanwhile Modi has also clarified that IPL will continue to permit only 4 foreign players in a team and has ruled out any chance of an increase in that number.

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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