BCCI to decide IPL venue on March 5

The suspense over the venues for this year's IPL is all set to end on March 5 when the BCCI will take a decision on the matter in a meeting in Nagpur, Board vice-president Rajiv Shukla said on Sunday.

"The BCCI president has been authorised to take a decision," Shukla said, adding that the matches may not be played in the country because of the general elections due in April-May.

The Home Ministry has already made it clear that in view of the Lok Sabha elections, providing security for IPL matches will not be possible for it.

Therefore, the BCCI has options of holding the matches in South Africa, Bangladesh and United Arab Emirates, said the Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs.

"We are in touch with the Home Ministry and a decision will be taken on March 5. Sri Lanka, the fourth venue which was under consideration, has been ruled out for hosting the matches due to prospect of rains in the island country during the period.

"We are keen to allow half of the tournament to be conducted outside the country and bring it back to India when the general elections are over in May," said Shukla.

Image: Rajeev Shukla

Photograph: BCCI