Keeping in mind the next year’s general elections in the country, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is contemplating about staging the IPL 2019 out of India.

As per a report published in The New Indian Express, BCC has told the franchises that in case the entire tournament is shifted, it will be held in South Africa. However, the BCCI officials are also aware of the fact that no top international player will be available during the month of May because of the World Cup starting later that month.

Earlier, there were reports claiming that elections could be held in December but it looks unlikely now. Therefore, the BCCI has no option but to shift the cash-rich event outside India just like it did in the previous two general election years – to South Africa in 2009 and to UAE in 2014

With the World Cup 2019 set to commence on May 30 in England and Wales, the BCCI is contemplating about finishing the IPL at least 15 days before that. Moreover, each team will play at least a couple of warm-up games before the World Cup and thus the Men in Blue will have to be in England by at least May 25. All these factors are to be taken into consideration while finalising the IPL itinerary.

According to The New Indian Express sources, the BCCI is looking to start the IPL 2019 in THE third week of March. It would mean an early closure and also ensure the presence of international stars. The franchises will have a meeting with the IPL General Council concerning this matter, before the BCCI takes an eventual decision.

“Considering that talks of early elections have died down, we can only assume that it would be held as usual in the months of April and May. Even though the IPL is starting by the third week of March, we cannot shift the tournament mid-way, because that means teams will have to adjust to conditions at the business end of the tournament. With South Africa being Plan A, the conditions are vastly different and it would require major tinkering of strategies and what not. England was also thought of, but the weather will not be ideal and UAE, by virtue of having only three venues, cannot host the whole IPL. That’s why South Africa is ideal. Not only it has many venues, even their players can play the whole tournament,” a highly placed source told Express.

“If we narrow down on a venue, then teams can pick players accordingly keeping in mind the local condition,” the official further added.

(With inputs from The New Indian Express)