The seventh edition of the high-profile Indian Premier League "could be shifted to South Africa due to the security concerns posed by the upcoming general elections, the dates of which are clashing with the event," according to the PTI. IPL authorities will meet with Home Ministry officials next week and "a final decision on the venue and the exact schedule is expected to be taken in the coming 10 days." The general elections "are scheduled to be held in April-May." IPL Chair Ranjib Biswal said, "We are considering so many options. We are meeting the Home Ministry officials and the Home Minister [Sushil Kumar Shinde] to know the possible dates on which we can accommodate [the IPL] in India as far as possible. We are keen holding the matches in India. If not, South Africa is the preferred destination. But also the second and third options are open." Biswal "did not name the second and third options." Biswal: "We want to hold maximum number of matches in India and if we get the green signal, probably we can hold all the matches in India." The IPL had been shifted to South Africa in ‘09 as well "because of similar security concerns posed by general elections" (PTI, 2/13).
