IPL opening match moved out of Hyderabad

Mumbai, Jan 22 (IANS) The opening match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been moved out of Hyderabad because of the ongoing protests over the Telangana agitation.

The inaugural match between defending champions Deccan Chargers and the Kolkata Knight Riders, scheduled to be held in Hyderabad on March 12, will now be played here at D.Y. Patil Stadium.

“The first match of the IPL’s new season will now be held in Mumbai on March 12,” an IPL official said.

“The opening match and the gala dinner the previous evening are very important for us. People from all over the world are coming and we are going to make sure that everything is in order. We don’t want to take any chances,” IPL chairman and commiossoner Modi told reporters here Friday.

“There are no changes to other matches, everything looks fine.”

Sources in IPL said the match has been shifted as a precautionary measure because the opening ceremony is also scheduled simultaneously.

Rest of the four home matches of Deccan Chargers will be held in Hyderabad while two matches will take place in Vishakapatnam, the new home venue of the team which has been added this year.

The other two new home venues are Ahmedabad for the Rajasthan Royals and Dharamshala for the Kings XI Punjab.