The IPL just moved it’s venue outside India. Undecided as of now, but it’s between England and South Africa.

It was supposedly due to the police not being able to provide adequate security to the players because of the election period. But the statements from police ranks, even a written statement from the Mumbai Police Commissioner Hassan Gaffoor speak otherwise. It’s being hinted that it had to do with the Congress – NCP fallout over a seat sharing issue. The revised schedule of the IPL was approved by the Home ministry only to be reversed later. Some say it’s a pressure tactic against the Sharad Pawar led NCP to give in to the Congress demands.

It’s definitely a big loss for India as everyone’s going to take the hit, from the team owners themselves who get some of their revenue from the local stadium ticket sales, to the common shop owners, to the fans. It just won’t be IPL anymore as the energy will be missed this time around. The league owners remain unaffected though, as the major chunk of revenue (around 95% or more) comes from television and other broadcasting rights.

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