Bengaluru chosen to host IPL final as matches moved outside drought-hit Maharashtra

With its schedule thrown haywire after the Bombay High Court ordered the shifting of 13 IPL matches out of drought-hit Maharashtra, the cash-rich league today picked Bengaluru as the venue for its finale and offered four alternate home options to the state's affected franchises. 

In a meeting between IPL Chairman Rajeev Shukla and representatives of the Rising Pune Supergiants and Mumbai Indians, it was decided to schedule IPL's final and the first qualifier in Bengaluru. 

The second qualifier and the eliminator, on the other hand, have been proposed to be moved to Kolkata to implement the Bombay High Court's order that asked the BCCI to shift all the IPL matches after 30 April from Maharashtra due to the acute water crisis in the state. 

In today's meeting, the two affected franchises were asked to pick from Raipur, Jaipur, Visakhapatnam, and Kanpur as their alternate home bases. 

While Pune opted for Visakhapatnam, Mumbai Indians sought two days' time to choose their new base. 

"We will propose before the Governing Council that final and qualifier 1 be shifted to Bengaluru, while qualifier 2 and eliminator to Kolkata," Shukla told reporters after the meeting. 

"After speaking to the franchises, we have given them four options: Raipur, Jaipur, Kanpur, and Visakhapatnam. Mumbai Indians have asked for time till day after tomorrow (to give their preference)," he added. 

"Pune has given Visakhapatnam as its preference. We will put the proposal of Pune team before the Governing Council." 

The logistical crisis was triggered off despite the BCCI's assurance to the High Court that IPL franchises of Mumbai and Pune had agreed to contribute Rs five crore each to CM's drought relief fund. 

"As far as giving Rs 5 crore is concerned, it will be as per the directive of the High Court. They (the franchises) are supposed to get a written order on this," Shukla said. 

Shukla also stated that the BCCI will plead before the HC to allow the 1 May clash between Mumbai and Pune to go ahead in Pune as the home franchise will be playing a game in the city on 29 April. 

"We will request the honourable court to allow us to hold this match," he said.

--PTI