Chennai: In a major blow to the expectations of the cricket lovers, IPL moves out of Chennai. The city will not host any of the four scheduled games in the seventh edition of the Indian Premier League, due to a dispute with the municipal authorities over the use of three stands at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. The alternate venue will be finalised by the IPL governing council on Saturday evening.
“There will be no IPL matches in Chennai this year, even the playoffs,” Kasi Viswanathan, TNCA secretary.
The Jharkhand State Cricket Association stadium in Ranchi, which is hosting two of the Super Kings’ four home games this year, has emerged as the front-runner to host the remaining two games as well. The two playoff matches, first qualifier and the eliminator, are likely to move to Bangalore and Mumbai.
The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association’s inability to host matches is due to the dispute with the municipal corporation over the legality of the construction of three new stands and a gymnasium at the MA Chidambaram stadium. After the Supreme Court had ordered both the parties to reach an amicable settlement with regard to staging IPL matches, the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) authorities informed the IPL authorities late on Friday of their inability to stage the matches.