Almost all IPL officials and team representatives are against IPL going out of India. With the dates of General Elections likely to clash with the IPL schedule in 2014, fears are that like in 2009, the government may refuse to provide personnel for security during the matches.
Four teams - Rajasthan Royals, Kings XI Punjab, Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore - have already expressed their wish to keep IPL in India next year.
It was learnt that some politicians who are BCCI members and some leaders in whose states these IPL teams are based want IPL to be held in India as they want to "ride on the IPL wave" during elections. However, for most teams, an away IPL would mean loss of revenue.
The fall in rupee's value could make IPL "a very expensive affair" if it is staged out of India. In 2009 when IPL was shifted to South Africa, a dollar was worth Rs 45 and now it's above Rs 62.
This would mean a 20 per cent increase in the overall expenses of every team. Even the official broadcaster is averse to the idea of taking the tournament out of India.
As a back-up plan, BCCI has four countries in its mind - Dubai (Abu Dhabi), Sri Lanka, South Africa and Bangladesh. Sources said South Africa and Bangladesh are top contenders.
No clarity on retention
The cap on number of players to be retained is yet to be decided and the IPL teams came up with their wish lists at the Singapore meet. While most teams want more than four players to be retained, everyone was surprised when one team asked for nine players in the retention list.
Sources said this team wants to retain seven capped and two uncapped players. Two teams are against retention. "The number of players retained would certainly be more than four," said an IPL official. Sources said the total salary cap was increased to Rs 60 crore from Rs 52 crore and the prize money hiked by 20 per cent.
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