MUMBAI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly decided to shift all IPL 2018 matches out of Chennai over security concerns over the Cauvery protests. Chennai saw massive protests on Tuesday, the day Chennai Super Kings played its first home match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
The CSK vs Kolkota Knoght Riders match was played amid tight security as about 4000 policemen guarded the stadium.
Despite this, there were incidents of a few people hurling shoes inside the ground. The police had detained three fans in connection with the case. The MA Chidambaram Stadium was scheduled to host seven IPL games this season.
There is now speculations that the matches involving CSK could be shifted to a stadium in Kerala. Kerala Cricket Association’s Jayesh George told the media on Sunday that talks about these changes had already begun.
According to PTI, however, which quoted IPL sources, Visakhapatnam is the front-runner from among four cities, the other three being Thiruvanantharam, Pune and Rajkot.
Political parties, farmers and even actors have been holding protests against the non-formation of the Cauvery Management Board and have also demanded that IPL matches should not be conducted in Chennai, as it would remove focus from the ongoing struggle against the Centre.
