BCCI talking to other Boards for possible IPL venue: Ranjib Biswal, tournament chairman

NEW DELHI: With the government making it clear that it will not be able to provide adequate security for IPL 7, the BCCI has started talking to cricket boards of other countries for possible venues of the cash-rich tournament, tournament chairman Ranjib Biswal said today.

"The (central) government had expressed its inability to provide adequate security for IPL 7 in view of the upcoming general elections. So we have started talking to different countries to hold the tournament," he said.

Asked if South Africa is a likely venue, he said, "South Africa is a favoured venue to host the matches but we will have to decide."

Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde today said that the government would not be able to provide adequate security for IPL -- likely to be held between April 9 and June 3 -- as its dates clash with general elections.

Biswal said in any case the IPL will have to get all government clearances before holding the tournament in another country.

"There is not going to be any IPL without government clearance. We will get all the clearances before the tournament," he said.

On the question of IPL spot-fixing case pending at the Supreme Court, Biswal said, "The Supreme Court had given the green signal for the players' auction. So we went ahead for IPL 7. The apex court will take a call on the (spot-fixing) case.

"But I can tell you, IPL 7 will be grander, cleaner and controversy free."