The first two IPL playoff games, which were scheduled to be played in Chennai on May 21 and 22, have been moved to Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi. The decision was taken after consensus emerged among the BCCI top brass because political tension in Tamil Nadu over the participation of the Sri Lankan cricketers was unlikely to subside.
Date and time | Match details |
Tue May 21, 2013 14:30 GMT, 8 PM IST, 7:30 PM PST | Qualifier 1 - TBC Vs TBC (1st Placed Team Vs 2nd Placed Team) Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi |
Wed May 22, 2013 14:30 GMT, 8 PM IST, 7:30 PM PST | Eliminator Match - TBC Vs TBC(3rd Placed Team Vs 4th Placed Team) Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi |
The Qualifer 1 will be played between the top-ranked teams in the league and the winner of the match will progress to the final. The Eliminator will have the No. 3 and 4 ranked teams squaring off, and the loser of that contest will be knocked out. The Qualifier 2 and the final will be played in Kolkata.
A section of the BCCI had been pressing for both games to be shifted out of Chennai but the IPL governing council, during its meeting on April 22, deferred the decision, saying it was trying to sort out the issue with the Tamil Nadu government.