IPL 2018: Cricket Association Of Bengal Wants To Host Two Playoffs

The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has thrown its hat to organise the two playoff games at Eden Gardens.

It had recently hosted the second round of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in the month of January.

The BCCI has already decided the fixtures of IPL but did not announce the venues for two playoff games, due to few issues.

The runner-up team hosts the two playoff games but, since Rising Pune Supergiant is now not a part of the league, BCCI was left with decision-making issues to decide the venue for eliminator and the second qualifier.

When the fixures were announced, the board decided not to announce the venues for the two games.

Eden Gardens is the home ground of two-time IPL champion, Kolkata Knight Riders.

The Maharashtra state association has already asked BCCI to continue the trend and stage the two games in Maharashtra only but since no franchise is based out of that venue, it is difficult for the board to allot two games to Maharashtra.

Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) has also requested BCCI to stage one game in the state.

Gujarat Lions is also another franchise which is not the part of IPL.

Also, the franchise did not end as the runner-up in IPL 2017, hence, there are no chances of BCCI alloting even one game to the state association.

A final decision on the matter will be taken at the meeting of COA on February 27.

Meanwhile, Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai is all set to host the first opening game and the final of IPL.

Mumbai Indians ended the tournament as the champion and the home ground of this franchise was an automatic choice to host these two games.

The upcoming season of IPL will start on April 7 at Wankhede stadium.

Mumbai Indians will face Chennai Super Kings in the opening game of the season.

The final of the tournament will be played on May 27.

Before the start of the tournament, an opening ceremony will also take place on April 6.

Unlike last year, only one opening ceremony will take place before the start of the T20 league.

In the last season, a total of eight opening ceremonies took place with each franchise hosting one ceremony at its home ground to celebrate 10 years of IPL.

Follow more news about IPL 2018 here.

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