After shifting the home matches of Chennai Super Kings to Pune, there has been a new twist in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has now decided to move out the playoff matches from Pune. The two qualifiers were scheduled to be played in Pune, but it eventually has been moved out after the CSK home matches were shifted to Pune.
Pune doesn’t have a team this time around so they were awarded six matches of CSK.
“Yes, the qualifiers will be shifted out of Pune. We will finalise the venue in a day or two,” Chairman of IPL Rajeev Shukla was quoted as saying by Sportstar on Friday.
It is still unclear that which city will be hosting the playoffs instead of Pune.
However, the matches are scheduled to be played on May 23 and May 25. In place of Pune, Kolkata and Lucknow have emerged as the frontrunner to stage the playoff matches. Rajkot as a venue hosted the Gujarat Lions, for a couple of years is another contender.
Kolkata which had earlier written to the BCCI to move the playoffs could be yet another option because of the connectivity with Mumbai.
“The grand finale of the lucrative tournament is scheduled to be held on May 27. We are working on the details. A decision is expected shortly,” Shukla said.
The Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) which has been gearing up to host the games for CSK was awarded a couple of playoffs.
Pune was previously the host city to Rising Pune Supergiant. The now-defunct team finished as the runners-up in the tenth edition of the tournament.
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