CSK’s Home Games Shifted To Pune

THE Board of Control for Cricket in India- BCCI –has decided not to insist on playing any more ongoing IPL match in Chennai in the wake of agitation over Cauvery water dispute in Tamil Nadu.All remaining games involving Chennai Super kings owned by the India cements have been moved to Pune disappointing the cricket fans in the southern state.    The Chennai Super Kings are a franchise cricket team based in Chennai was scheduled to play IPL matches in the metropolis.. Founded in 2008, the team played its home matches at the 50,000 capacity M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in the city. After remaining suspended for two years for alleged involvement of their owners in the 2013 Indian Premier League betting case, the CSK has returned to the league in 2018. The Tamil Nadu Government has expressed inability to ensure adequate security for IPL matches.The matches had to be shifted out of Chennai as the police said that they were unable to provide security in the prevailing situation. CSK is not averse to shifting base to Pune, IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla told media persons. There were already calls by various groups not to host cricket matches in Chennai when the state was facing such a grave situation. Massive protests were witnessed on Tuesday ahead of the match between CSK and Kolkata Knight Riders and an identified protestor flung a shoe at CSK’s Ravindra Jadeja during the match. The IPL authorities have taken serious view of the condemnable incident though no player was injured. The BCCI had short-listed four cities to host matches but eventually, Pune was finalised as CSK captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has opted for it.He is familiar with the conditions having played two seasons with Rising Pune Supergiants.Committee of Administrator (CoA) chief Vinod Rai had earlier said that the prevailing situation compelled them to explore options and they had kept four alternative venues ready. Apart from Pune, Visakhapatnam, Thiruvananthapuram and Rajkot were selected as stand-by venues.CSK Skipper Dhoni knows the conditions well and logistically it made sense to have Pune as the new venue instead of Visakhapatnam.”There are only a few direct flights available from Vizag. If the team has to travel to Indore, then they had to reach Indore via Delhi. Pune has better connectivity, so it was decided that CSK shift base to Pune,” the source said. The Maharashtra Cricket Association said they are ready to host matches.”We were in touch with BCCI as well franchise officials. We are prepared for the challenge as the match is to be hosted in a just few days,” said the official who did not wish to be quoted.