Chennai Super Kings will have a new home in Pune. The Board of Control for Cricket in India confirmed that the Maharashtra city would host the remaining home matches of the IPL franchise.
BCCI’s acting president C.K. Khanna said: “Pune will host all the [CSK home] matches."
The Committee of Administrators is expected to meet on Thursday and officially confirm to move.
READ: Pune ready to host CSK matches, says MCA president
The IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla told PTI , “The matches had to be shifted out of Chennai as police had said that they were unable to provide security in the prevailing situation. CSK is not averse to shifting base to Pune.”
Pune was picked ahead of Visakhapatnam, Thiruvanthanpuram and Lucknow, the three other venues which were also in consideration as possible replacements. Pune was finalised since CSK captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is familiar with the conditions having played two seasons with Rising Pune Supergiant.
Committee of Administrator (CoA) chief Vinod Rai had earlier told PTI that the prevailing situation has forced them to explore options and they had kept the alternative venues ready.
An IPL source said logistically it made sense to have Pune as the new venue instead of Visakhapatnam. “There are only a few direct flights available from Vizag. If the team has to travel to Indore, then they had to reach Indore via Delhi. Pune has better connectivity, so it was decided that CSK shift base to Pune,” the source said.
Meanwhile, an official from the Maharashtra Cricket Association said they are ready to host matches.
“We were in touch with BCCI as well franchise officials. We are prepared for the challenge as the match is to be hosted in a just few days,” said the official who did not wish to be quoted.
The organisers have a few days to put arrangements in place as CSK play their next home game on April 20 against Rajasthan Royals.
Comments
SHARE