IPL Cricket in South Africa may be cancelled
Senior management of Newlands cricket ground and the Western Province Cricket Association have been locked in meetings with representatives of the Indian Premier League after threats to cancel the highly-anticipated cricket tournament, over a dispute around the use by members of their suites. Management of Sahara Park Newlands has asked all suiteholders and club members to forego their rights to the suites during the tournament.
Urgent meetings were called on Monday at the offices of the WP Cricket Association, where the association met with senior representatives of Cricket South Africa and the IPL. Meanwhile, Western Province Cricket Club members have been told by their representatives, who have also held meetings with senior stakeholders, that the club intended seeking "urgent relief from any unlawful restrictions or regulations placed on it".
Urgent meetings were called on Monday at the offices of the WP Cricket Association, where the association met with senior representatives of Cricket South Africa and the IPL. Meanwhile, Western Province Cricket Club members have been told by their representatives, who have also held meetings with senior stakeholders, that the club intended seeking "urgent relief from any unlawful restrictions or regulations placed on it".
Many club members who had queued outside the stadium on Monday to collect their tickets received SMSes saying no tickets would be available until further notice.
A statement from Andre Odendaal, chief executive of the WPCA, said the suiteholders would make the sacrifice in exchange for free tickets to the tournament.
"An allocation of an equivalent number of seats on a block basis in the grandstand for each match of the IPL tournament at no cost at all", and "access to a hospitality tent close to the ground at which food and beverages will be provided at no cost to the suiteholder", were what they were offered. Odendaal said the IPL organisers had "insisted that, as a non-negotiable requirement for the hosting of the eight matches in Cape Town", they required access to all the suites.
"To put it bluntly, if we are unable to deliver our suites to the IPL, Cape Town and cricket in the Western Cape will be the ultimate loser," Odendaal warned. He said the IPL would not require all the suites for all the matches, and that for some games suiteholders would get first option to use a suite, although not necessarily their own, for a particular match.
The price range had not yet been determined, but was expected to be very high.
He said being able to host the IPL was "a massive opportunity", and that all arrangements had had to be made in just two weeks.
"All provinces hosting matches have been asked to accommodate the IPL to showcase our country." Discussions regarding the terms were, however, continuing. Cape Town is set to host eight IPL matches from April 18 to 26. The IPL requires a response by close of business on Thursday, before the weekend matches planned for April 18 here will be allowed to proceed.
“With only a week to finalise travel arrangements, cricket fans need to know now if they are coming to SA or not,” notes Robert Wilson. CEO of travelinsouthafrica.net .
A statement from Andre Odendaal, chief executive of the WPCA, said the suiteholders would make the sacrifice in exchange for free tickets to the tournament.
"An allocation of an equivalent number of seats on a block basis in the grandstand for each match of the IPL tournament at no cost at all", and "access to a hospitality tent close to the ground at which food and beverages will be provided at no cost to the suiteholder", were what they were offered. Odendaal said the IPL organisers had "insisted that, as a non-negotiable requirement for the hosting of the eight matches in Cape Town", they required access to all the suites.
"To put it bluntly, if we are unable to deliver our suites to the IPL, Cape Town and cricket in the Western Cape will be the ultimate loser," Odendaal warned. He said the IPL would not require all the suites for all the matches, and that for some games suiteholders would get first option to use a suite, although not necessarily their own, for a particular match.
The price range had not yet been determined, but was expected to be very high.
He said being able to host the IPL was "a massive opportunity", and that all arrangements had had to be made in just two weeks.
"All provinces hosting matches have been asked to accommodate the IPL to showcase our country." Discussions regarding the terms were, however, continuing. Cape Town is set to host eight IPL matches from April 18 to 26. The IPL requires a response by close of business on Thursday, before the weekend matches planned for April 18 here will be allowed to proceed.
“With only a week to finalise travel arrangements, cricket fans need to know now if they are coming to SA or not,” notes Robert Wilson. CEO of travelinsouthafrica.net .
In a statement from the club management to members, they said they were prepared to help the IPL organisers and the cricket association "in many ways", but would not capitulate on demands or "unreasonable requests" that would prejudice their rights. It is believed that the sale of IPL tickets for the WPCC pavilion is expected to start from next Tuesday.
natasha.prince@inl.co.za
