IPL: Nothing INDIAN About it anymore :(

IPL moves out of India :(

http://www.espnstar.com/cricket/indian-premier-league/news/detail/item229475/IPL-moves-out-of-India/

The Downside (My view):

I am just taken aback by this. How can the Indian Premier League not be played in India. If the matches are not played in India how then will it be the Indian Premier League. I agree that the league is not totally Indian with top foreign players making a beeline, but at least the matches must be played in India :(
I am not taking sides either with the political establishment which says that in the election season and against the backdrop of the recent attacks on the Sri-Lankan Cricketers in Lahore providing security will be a problem vis-a-vis the BCCI who would lose millions if the league doesn't proceed as planned (that too it should not be forgotten that the Champions League T20 got scrapped thanks to the Mumbai attacks) and also April-May provides a good window because the international cricket schedule is not busy then. But then DIL NAHI MANTA :(

I had planned to watch at least one match of the later stages in Mumbai (a semifinal or the final) with the firm belief that Mumbai Indians will make it there and Sachin (read GOD) will provide the necessary fireworks. Alas that dream will remain only a dream :(

Also with the game going to England and SA and the present market recession I have good reason to believe that the team merchandise will be more expensive :( :( I also wanted to buy the Mumbai Indians jersey (here I want to cry out loud :( :( )

They say that the matches will be played in England or South Africa so I have reason to believe that the final will be played either at Lords or The Wanderers, but then what is the use of seeing Mumbai Indians lifting the trophy in Lords or Wanderers :( Wankhede would have been a whole different experience.

The Flip Side (My view):

The moment I read the article, and once the gloom which I have mentioned above subsided I think there will be certain pluses too....

1) Cheer-leaders: You must have got the point by now. With the kind of puesdo moral policing which goes on India every now and then, the firangi cheer leaders who came down in the last year couldn't really let their hair down and cheer the teams (or the audiences) as they would have liked. But in England or SA I don't think that would be a problem. But then as far as the cheer-leading goes I would prefer the venue to be SA. I still consider the Englishman to be snobbish and in your face, pardon me.
2) Pitches: T20 is a run fest and if it is not then it is boring. Both England and SA have conditions different than the Indian subcontinent. If I am not wrong you will seldom find a belter in these regions. So either its a challenge to the batsmen or the organisers. But again if BCCI can muscle in and make some real batsman friendly pitches there I would suggest after the IPL, India should tour these countries. This would help our ICC ODI and Test ranking ;)

But all and all..the Downside bears more on my mind than the Flipside. Why the ECB or CSA should benefit :( :(