IPL 2019 final venue: BCCI has changed the venues for as many as three IPL 2019 playoff matches citing different reasons.
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The venue for the ongoing 12th season of the Indian Premier League has been shifted from Chennai to Hyderabad after the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association weren’t granted permission to open stands I, J and K by the local municipal corporation.
“We had to shift the matches from Chennai to Hyderabad after TNCA intimated us that they have not procured the requisite permission to open the three stands I, J and K,” Committee of Administrators (CoA) chief Vinod Rai told PTI on Monday.
“Since the gate sales of the knock-out matches is BCCI’s prerogative, we had to take a call. We would be having two knock-out matches in Vizag,” he added.
The M. A. Chidamabaram Stadium was earlier slated to host the Qualifier 1 and the final of IPL 2019. However, under the new development, it will only hold the Qualifier 1 on May 7.
Being asked if gate sales will still be affected for the first Qualifier at Chennai, Rai said. “CSK, by virtue of being defending champions, were allotted the Qualifier 1 and final. Now, if they finish in top two, you cannot take away all the games. They deserve to get at least one of the knock-out games.”
Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad was given the responsibility of hosting the Eliminator and Qualifier of IPL. Having said that, with local elections scheduled on May 6, 10 and 14, the same wouldn’t be possible due to security concerns.
Change in venues for Eliminator and Qualifier 2
While Hyderabad will host IPL 2019 final on May 12, the Eliminator (May 8) and Qualifier 2 (May 10) have been assigned to Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Vizag. Kept as a backup alongside Bengaluru, Vizag will now hold the two crucial matches of the tournament.
Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur, will host all the four women’s matches between Trailblazers, Supernovas and Velocity despite the first match clashing alongside elections on May 6. It is believed that the Rajasthan Cricket Association has received the required permissions for the same.
