IPL 2016: BCCI opts not to appeal High Court ruling, Raipur and Kanpur emerge as favorite alternate venues

Rajeev Shukla, IPL Chairman and senior member of the BCCI confirmed that they would not be challenging the Bombay High Court ruling on Friday that had ordered 13 IPL matches slated to be held in Maharashtra to be shifted out of the state, and revealed that the search for alternate venues has already begun, Cricbuzz reports.

"Yesterday only we decided that we are not going for an appeal. We will be implementing the verdict given by the Mumbai High Court," Shukla told reporters at the Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) Stadium in Rajkot on Thursday. "After the court verdict, we are working out the plan by which the verdict can be implemented."

The HC ruling had stated all matches after April 30 scheduled to be held in the state of Maharashtra to be shifted out of the state, but Shukla said that the BCCI would be approaching the court in the hope that one more match is allowed at Pune as it is slated to host matches on April 29 and also, just two days later, on May 1.

"Since there is a match on April 29 and May 1 in Pune - back-to-back matches - it will be almost impossible to move the equipment in 24 hours to another venue. So that's a technical problem, so we are going to appeal tomorrow to the Mumbai HC if they can allow one more match in Pune. Rest of the matches will be shifted," he confirmed.

When asked whether the BCCI would be making any donation to the Chief Minister's drought relief fund as was being promised as a last resort to avoid the matches being shifted out, Shukla said that the court’s ruling will be followed in the fullest.

"We had given the offer to the court, (but the) court said 'No. You take matches out of there.' We will react as per the court's order,” Shukla said. "We are equally sympathetic for the farmers. We also agree with the court that the interests of the farmers are paramount. The matter has been settled by the court. Whatever the court has said we are ready to do. So far we have not received any [direction] from the court."

He also added that shifting IPL matches on such a short notice was highly challenging because of the scale of logistics involved as well as getting alternate venues ready.

"Major logistic problems is the movement of equipment. Gigantic exercise. Then all those things - look and feel of the stadium, ticketing, maintenance of ground and wickets,” Shukla said.

He confirmed that Kings XI’s three matches scheduled to be held in Nagpur have been allocated to Mohali and Dharamsala while Kanpur, Raipur, and Vizag are being considered as home venues for Mumbai Indians and Rising Pune Supergiants.

“KXIP has gone back to the old pattern - their three matches (will be moved out of Nagpur and) will be played in Mohali and Dharamsala. Kanpur, Raipur, and Vizag are the main options (for the other matches)," he said.

Other options being considered are Jaipur and Indore but there are a few issues to be sorted out before allocating matches to these venues.

"RCA (Rajasthan Cricket Association) can't host the ground, but the government has approached us that they will conduct it. We will put Jaipur also in the option. Let's see how the franchises react. We can host [matches without RCA being there]. There is a sports council of the government,” Shukla said.

"Indore, I have just spoken to the MPCA secretary. He is checking with the authorities because Kumbh Mela is going on and all the security forces have been deployed there. Whether the government will be able to provide forces or not has to be seen,” he added.