The BCCI has sent out a stern message to the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) stating that Jaipur will host IPL matches only when elections are held and an elected body is in place. The future of IPL matches in Jaipur is now under serious doubt, though the city has hosted its home games for 18 years so far.
IPL chairman Arun Singh Dhumal said that the BCCI had conveyed its stand to the RCA last year. BCCI would find it tough to allocate IPL matches to the stadium in the absence of an elected committee and well-conducted elections, he had said. The position remains the same, as an election has not been conducted, Dhumal said. Apart from that, the franchise will also have a look at the already existing Sawai Mansingh Stadium.
The RCA is currently being managed by an ad hoc committee formed by the Rajasthan state government, which should be allowed to function and work for making sure that cricketing activities in the state take place: Deen Dayal Kumawat. The committee has been running the association for two years. With uncertainty looming, Rajasthan Royals considered other venues like Pune and inspected the facilities there as a keep-as-it-is plan.
The RCA, in a statement, replied that there has been no direct communication from the BCCI but indicated that they were in discussions with the Rajasthan Royals management. The association is fully prepared to conduct IPL matches in Jaipur, and it will talk to the state government to resolve whatever issues the BCCI has, Kumawat said.
Dhumal, meanwhile, said he was “confident” that Bengaluru will remain an IPL venue. After the June 4 incident, there was a lot of deliberation between the Karnataka State Cricket Association and the state government’s home minister to provide adequate security for the India-Sri Lanka game at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, but BCCI hopes that matches will go on as planned.
