2009/04/17
PREPARATIONS are well under way for the biggest cricket extravaganza the province has ever seen as the Eastern Cape waits to host 10 Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket matches.
The first game in the province will take place on April 20 when the Chennai Super Kings clash with the Bangalore Royal Challengers at Port Elizabeth’s St George’s Park.
On May 1, the Mumbai Indians will go head-to- head with the Kolkata Knight Riders at East London’s Buffalo Park, bringing Aussie captain Ricky Ponting and batting great Sachin Tendulkar to town.
With each team comes an entourage of performers and dancers who will provide “sportainment” before and after matches.
Border Cricket chief executive Themba Lupuwana said that while no major renovations were being made to Buffalo Park, come May 1 the stadium would be in world-class condition.
The IPL, the most lucrative cricket tournament in the world, was moved to South Africa after the Indian government was unable to ensure security in the country.
Lupuwana said security measures at the stadium were being beefed up to ensure optimum safety for players and spectators.
He said security at the local stadium will be fit for a World Cup event.
“All games will be viewed by over 120 million people.
“We don’t want anything to happen. We have to make sure that they are safe in our city.
“The kind of security being enacted is at the highest level and we last saw that during the 2003 Cricket World Cup,” he said.
To ensure security, no tickets will be sold at Buffalo Park on game days and parking nearest the stadium will be reserved.
From April 29 to April 30, 14000 tickets will go on sale for the first match in East London and Lupuwana is confident they will sell out on the first day. Tickets are priced at R20 and R40.
“In Cape Town tickets sold out on the first day ... If you miss the first day, you might miss out,” he said.
Lupuwana said negotiations were still under way over the rights of suite holders after IPL organisers demanded the use of boxes in the Western Cape.
The debacle, which threatened Newlands’ ability to host eight games, would be resolved at the end of the week, Lupuwana added.
“The IPL’s commitment to sponsors, teams and entourages has to be met but we also need to be able to secure space for local supporters,” he said.
In Port Elizabeth, 17500 tickets went on sale yesterday for the first match and 2000 have been sold so far.
Dave Emslie , Eastern Province Cricket Board (EPCB) CEO, said tickets would be sold at the gates and on game days.
While the IPL would be solely responsible for players’ security, Emslie said the EPCB will be responsible for stadium security.
“There’s emphasis on good exposure for the match days ... but other than that, it’s business as usual.” - By ASA SOKOPO
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