IPL and South Africa defuse stadium suite row

The Indian Premier League has reached a compromise with South African cricket provinces over the allocation of corporate suites,ending a row which threatened the tournament. Indian officials originally demanded full control of hospitality boxes at every match to accommodate special guests as a non-negotiable requirement of host stadiums. In return for surrendering boxes,suiteholders were promised free stand tickets,food and beverages for every IPL match at their stadium,but the offer was rejected with some threatening to lock their suites. However,Cricket South Africa chief executive Gerald Majola claimed today that parties have found a resolution. “We’ve come to some sort of an agreement,” he confirmed. “We’re close to finalising the details and confident that everything is going to run smoothly.” Majola declined to reveal full details,saying his organization would do so in a statement to be released tomorrow.

It is believed the IPL softened its stance after reportedly telling suite-holders they would have to pay the tournament organisers Rs 9,000 per person to rent their own suites during matches. While the glitz-and-glamour Twenty20 tournament had full control of the stadia for matches in India during the first edition last year,its demands have not been so readily accepted in South Africa.