THE United Arab Emirates will host the first leg of this year's Indian Premier League cricket (IPL), the organisers said today (March 12).
The lucrative Twenty20 tournament this year clashes with the parliamentary election in the world's biggest democracy.
A staggering 814 million Indians will be eligible to vote from April 7 in what would be the biggest election the world has ever seen.
Voting will be held in nine stages, staggered until May 12, and results are due to be announced on May 16.
With poll security being the government's priority, UAE would host at least 16 IPL matches from April 16-30, the Indian cricket board said in a statement without naming the venues.
Local media claimed Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah would host those matches.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has approached the interior ministry for permission to host the May 1-12 matches in states where polling would be over, but has kept Bangladesh as a standby in case the government cannot provide security.
"BCCI will abide by the decision of the authorities in this regard. If it is not possible to play in India during this period, IPL matches will be held in Bangladesh," the board said.
The last set of matches culminating in the June 1 final would be held in India, the board said, promising to share tournament schedules soon.
South Africa hosted the second IPL in 2009 when the cash-awash tournament clashed with the multi-phased election that year.
