The Indian Premier League Governing Council members "had an informal discussion on Sunday about alternate country that could host the seventh edition of the popular Twenty20 league next year," according to the PTI. The discussions "were primarily based on the fact India will be going for the general elections next year and it will happen in phases across the country." It will be "very difficult for the state governments to deploy security for the matches prior or just after the election dates" (PTI, 11/18). PAKISTAN TODAY reported "the topic of whether to replace Pune Warriors in the forthcoming edition" of the IPL did not come up for discussion "since the matter was sealed" during the Board of Control for Cricket in India working committee meeting on Oct. 26. IPL 2014 will "thus see a format similar to the one" in '10, where the tournament will see a "total number of 60 matches spanned over six weeks." It may also result in a "reduction of 4pm starts, which has been a concern for both advertisers and players." While the advertisers feel early matches "don't attract eyeballs, players find it difficult to deal with the rising temperatures in April-May when the summer is at its peak in India" (PAKISTAN TODAY, 11/18).
