The IPL moves to South Africa

On Sunday it was revealed that the IPL (Indian Premier League) would not be taking place in India this year. This, a decision that would have saddened many Indian cricket fans.

When the IPL was created, it represented a modern India, mixing Bollywood glitz and big money with Twenty20 cricket, to form an exciting brand of entertainment. It seemed set to eclipse the traditional test cricket format.

However, the recent attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore and the earlier Mumbai terror attacks appear to have forced the competition from its home.

Initially it appeared that the competeition could move to England, but South Africa has now been confirmed as the new venue. English weather conditions for April and May may have swayed IPL boss Lalit Modi's decision.

A cold and windy Old Trafford is a far cry from a baking hot Mumbai, and it is hard to imagine the MCC embracing the tournament at Lords. For a stripy blazer wearing MCC member, the IPL would be far too vulgar.

TV rights may have been a factor that forced Modi's hand, as the ECB holds a contract with Sky, but the IPL holds one with Setanta. In South Africa there is no such problem, so this must have worked in their favour.

Another plus for South Africa must have been that their cricket season has finished. Therefore all of the grounds will be available for use. In England the domestic season will just be beginning, and the congestion of fixtures could have been a problem.

It is a terrible shame that the tournament is not being held in India, because in many ways this means that the terrorists have won.

The Indian government said that because the tournament was happening at the same time as the general election, they would not have enough security forces to make the competition completely safe.

I cannot help but think this is a convenient excuse for a worried nation. By not hosting the tournament at all, India has waved any responsibility, but the country will also lose out on a big payday.

The money that the IPL would have generated will now go to South Africa, and the Indian people will be left watching from a distance.

If the IPL had come to England, many English cricket fans would have been thrilled, but somehow I cannot quite see the format working over here.

The ECB have been far too slow in embracing Twenty20 and of course banned their players from participating in last year's competition. Thankfully they have now relented, and fans can now watch stars such as Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff compete with the best.

This year's competition could be marketed as a bit of a novelty, but if it fails to return to India next year, I can easily see the idea of the IPL disintegrating.

In a turbulent post 9/11 world it is now sport that is feeling the heat, and we can only look on nervously as events unfold. Let's hope the IPL returns to India where it belongs in 2010.