The Indian Premier League wants to expand the world’s most successful Twenty20 competition into other countries, including Britain, according to Elizabeth Ammon of the LONDON TIMES. IPL Chair Rajeev Shukla said that the league was doing "wonderfully well" and added that after English football’s Premier League, it had become the world’s "most important domestic sporting tournament." He said, "Now we are planning to take it overseas to places like Dubai, the U.K. and also America." IPL officials have reportedly been investigating the possibility of having a "home" venue in London. It would "probably be the Oval rather than Lord’s, given Surrey’s development plans that will create the largest-capacity cricket venue in the country." Some matches would be played there "in the same way that the NFL plays matches at Twickenham and Wembley." There is also the possibility of a "full-time London-based franchise in addition to the eight India-based franchises." Although the IPL could seek a deal with a British venue, "it would almost certainly need approval" from the England & Wales Cricket Board (LONDON TIMES, 5/23).
