Bhubaneswar: The BCCI Working Committee will meet here on Friday to shortlist two prospective countries which will be kept as alternative venues for the seventh edition of the IPL which is co-inciding with the general elections.
While South Africa is the front-runner having had the experience of hosting the second season of IPL, United Arab Emirates (UAE) is also among the countries being considered for the event to be held between April 9 to June 3 window.
The final decision on a alternative location will be taken only after the government announces the dates of the general elections as the BCCI is hard-pressed to organise it in India due to pressure from the sponsors.
"As per the agenda, the report of the last IPL governing council meeting will be placed before the working committee.
The Working Committee will then recommend a couple of alternative locations which would be forwarded to to IPL Governing Council. The IPL Governoing Council and primarily, the CEO Sundar Raman will have a say in the final outcome," a senior working committee member told PTI today.
Meanwhile, some of the other points that is on the agenda include confirming the minutes of the last working committee and also passing the finance committee reports and recommendations.
According to the official, a concrete decision can't be taken right away as BCCI is still hopeful of organising the bulk of the matches in India as per the wishes of all the franchises.
South Africa has the best facilities to host an event of IPL's magnitude. The controversies kept aside, they have the best grounds and the timing of the matches would suit the Indian TV viewers which is the most important aspect of the cash-rich league.