Modi considers UK stop for IPL

by Richard Field , 01 June 2009

Chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi told setanta.com that the IPL would 'love' to play matches in the UK.

The IPL circus rolled into London on Monday to promote the historic Twenty20 contest between the Rajasthan Royals and Middlesex Panthers at Lord's on July 6.

The second edition of the IPL was played entirely in South Africa due to security fears in India over the national elections.

Modi is keen to build on the success of the tournament in South Africa, and discussions will be held with the cricket authorities, in the United Kingdom, to examine the chances of staging Indian Premier League contests.

"We haven't examined the UK yet. We have just had the first season out of India, in South Africa, and we've had a tremendous amount of success with that," Modi told setanta.com.

"That was something that was not planned but it does actually open up a whole new vista for us.

"We are going to be looking at playing matches overseas and where and when they will be played is still a matter to be debated and studied.

"Many countries have invited us to come there but England is definitely a priority for us and we will be talking to the ECB and the counties to see if and when it would be possible.

"The UK calendar is quite full with your own domestic series and we will examine it in the context of that.

"Yes, if all things were even, we would love to play here."

Rajasthan Royals co-owner Manoj Badale exclusively told setanta.com that they would like to keep captain Shane Warne when his contract expires at the end of next year's IPL event.

"We would like to keep Shane Warne as long as he wants to play for us," Badale said.

"We do not envisage doing a lot of business in the next auction because we hope to have Shane Watson back [after he was injured for the last IPL].

"We already have a good team."

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