ECB bracing themselves for snub by IPL

The ECB were last night bracing themselves for an embarrassing snub as South Africa emerged as the favourites to be named hosts for the relocated Indian Premier League.

INTENT ECB chief executive David Collier INTENT: ECB chief executive David Collier

IPL commissioner Lalit Modi was in South Africa last night meeting senior officials of their government, hammering out the logistical details of hosting a tournament that will start in just three weeks’ time.

But there are likely to be some red faces at Lord’s after it emerged that while England was the favoured venue of many powerful voices in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) up until yesterday, IPL officials have been frustrated by the pace at which the ECB have moved.

Despite a public statement of interest in hosting the IPL from ECB chief executive David Collier on Sunday in Guyana, the earliest planned meetings were for Thursday – after a day spent feting the women’s World Cup winners at Lord’s.

And with the logistics of organising a 59-match, eight-team, 45-day Twenty20 bash in just three weeks assuming nightmarish proportions, time was of the essence.

South Africa had seemed the more likely destination, given their domestic season finishes a day before the IPL is due to start.

But while officially the possibility of rain in England in April will sway the decision, privately there is a belief that South Africa were simply quicker out of the blocks in assuring a red carpet welcome.

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