Cricket: South Africa in line to host IPL

CAPE TOWN - Cricket Australia officials are playing a waiting game amid speculation the Indian Premier League (IPL) will be shifted next month to South Africa because of security concerns.

The lucrative Twenty20 tournament featuring the world's top cricketers is scheduled to be held in India over a six-week period starting mid-April. But the staging has been thrown into doubt because of a drain on security resources caused by a clash with elections in India. Players' associations from across the cricketing world are concerned about security following recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai and Lahore, where the Sri Lankan team bus was sprayed by a gang armed with machine guns.

"I understand that discussions have been taking place and these appear favourable," South African Cricketers' Association chief Tony Irish said in a front-page article in Saturday's Weekend Argus newspaper in Cape Town.

"Reading between the lines, I think it will happen. " The second annual tournament, set to include Australian stars including Brett Lee, Mike Hussey, Simon Katich, Shane Watson and retired greats such as Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist, was originally set down for an April 10 start.

Wanderers, Centurion and Potchefstroom are likely venues in the highveld area if South Africa takes over the tournament this year, the newspaper said.

"The IPL is a competition managed by a sub-committee of the BCCI (Indian board)," Cricket Australia spokesman Phillip Pope said on Saturday.

"It's really a matter for the BCCI.

"Our focus is on the series in South Africa and the upcoming one-day series in the UAE against Pakistan. " Cricket South Africa chief Gerald Majola released a puzzling statement on Saturday in Cape Town in a bid to dampen speculation.

"There has been no official approach to Cricket South Africa, either by the BCCI or the IPL, and we don't know where these rumours are emanating from," Majola said.

IPL chairman Lalit Modi has told Cricinfo a meeting will be held in Mumbai on Sunday regarding the tournament.

"We are ready for any eventuality, and have 42 different schedules prepared. Everything will be discussed and finalised at the meeting tomorrow," Modi said.

- AAP