IPL’S CHALLENGES IN TIME OF CRISIS

With energy sector hit, especially cooking gas, it needs to be seen how league thinktank navigates should the West Asia conflict continue

- SWAROOP SWAMINATHAN @ Chennai

THE next edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is scheduled to begin on March 28 in Bengaluru. Actually, scratch that. The next edition of the IPL is scheduled to begin on March 28 in Bengaluru but subject to how the situation in West Asia progresses over the next 10 days.

In all likelihood, the defending champions, RCB, as has been customary, may have the honour of opening the league but subject to the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) implementing the recommendations of the Justice Michael D’Cunha report following the stampede and the strategy during the victory celebrations outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium last year.

So, it’s fair to say that the 19th edition of one of the world’s richest sporting leagues is facing some headwinds as another season approaches. Outside of geopolitical factors as well as the issue around the Stadium -- some sources have suggested that the Stadium will receive the necessary go-ahead — other factors too may play a role. With elections scheduled to be held in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu in the Summer, the officials can only announce the fixtures for the rest of the campaign once the Elections Commission releases the dates as well as counting (Assam, too, is going to polls but Guwahati may have already finished hosting its quota of games by then).