IPL 9: Delhi offers to host Pune's play-offs

The Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) has expressed its readiness to host the two play-off matches of the Indian Premier League (IPL) scheduled to be held in Pune if they are re-located

New Delhi: The Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) has expressed its readiness to host the two play-off matches of the Indian Premier League (IPL) scheduled to be held in Pune if they are re-located.

IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla

The Bombay High Court directed on Wednesday that all IPL games scheduled to be held in Maharashtra after April 30 must be re-located due to the severe water crisis in the state.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is now faced with the onerous task of deciding on alternate venues for 13 matches, including the IPL final.

"I on behalf of DDCA offer that our association is ready to host playoffs matches of IPL, in case they are shifted from Pune. We assure you our best of cooperation to BCCI/IPL for the said matches if they are shifted and allotted to us," DDCA vice-president C.K. Khanna wrote to IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla yesterday.

The BCCI has 18 days to look for new venues for the 13 IPL matches to be held in May, should it decide not to challenge the order in the Supreme Court.

Of the three IPL play-offs, two were originally to be held in Pune on May 25 and 27 while the third is to be held at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore on May 24.

Maharashtra was originally scheduled to host 20 IPL matches in Mumbai, Nagpur and Pune. All three cities are facing a severe water crisis at present.

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