With the dates of the general elections and IPL set to clash, the BCCI was left with no choice but to move the tournament out of India. However, the Indian cricket board is still optimistic of bringing the cash-rich league back to the country once the elections are over and has communicated its plan to the franchises.
While the final plan can only be drawn once the election schedule is announced, going by the BCCI's preliminary proposal, the franchises can hope for some damage control in the latter half of the IPL when the event returns to the country.
"The BCCI has informed us that of the 14 matches that each franchise is scheduled to play, eight are likely to be held abroad and the remaining six could be played in the country," said a franchise official.
Home turn split
"Six matches in the country could be played on a home-and-away basis, thus giving the franchises the opportunity to make up their losses to some extent," added the official. Shifting the tournament out means the franchises will lose income in the form of gate money. The BCCI, though, has also assured the franchises that it will compensate their losses from gate receipts and sponsorship.
The board's plan might have given some respite to franchises but everything from now on rests on the election schedule, as the Lok Sabha polls are also likely to be held in April and May, the months when the league is played. More options are also likely to be explored during the IPL governing council meeting, scheduled after the working committee meeting on February 28.
{{/usCountry}}The board's plan might have given some respite to franchises but everything from now on rests on the election schedule, as the Lok Sabha polls are also likely to be held in April and May, the months when the league is played. More options are also likely to be explored during the IPL governing council meeting, scheduled after the working committee meeting on February 28.
{{/usCountry}}