IPL 2018: Matches to stay in Chennai, clarifies CSK CEO

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) management quashed rumours that the franchise’s home games are set to move out of the city due to the Cauvery water issue. The ongoing water dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka had led to speculations that some of CSK’s fixtures — including the one against Royal Challengers Bangalore — could be shifted to either Thiruvananthapuram or Kochi.

Interestingly, Kerala Cricket Association secretary Jayesh George, on Sunday, claimed that he had spoken to CSK CEO, Kasi Viswanathan, and top BCCI officials in Mumbai on Saturday about the issue. The KCA secretary said that the state association was ready with alternatives in the form of Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram as alternatives.

“Last night, CSK CEO K.S. Viswanathan spoke to me about this and today top officials of the BCCI and IPL, including Amitabh Choudhary and Rajeev Shukla, also talked to me. We have expressed our willingness to stage IPL matches in Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi. We will hear from them in the next few days,” he said.

No discussion about changing venues

However, Vishwanathan clarified later that the meeting involved no discussion about changing the venue of the fixtures. With the franchise bosses and the BCCI officials clearing the air, Chennai’s M. A. Chidambaram Stadium will continue to be CSK’s fortress. Despite the increasing protests being witnessed in Tamil Nadu over the water dispute, it has been made clear that IPL will not play a role in this dispute whatsoever.

“Any decision on shifting the matches will be taken only by the BCCI. The CSK management has been following the developments on the Cauvery issue. The matches that are to be played in Chennai will go on as scheduled,” as reported by TOI.

“We have already informed the Chennai police about the schedule and they will handle the law and order situation appropriately. With the kind of fencing we have inside the stadium, nobody will be allowed to enter the playing field We hope for the best,” CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan said.

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