Modi exploring options to take IPL to US

NEW DELHI: Indian Premier League (IPL) supremo Lalit Modi and USA Cricket's chief executive Donald Lockerbie are exploring options to take the IPL to the US.

Issues ranging from infrastructure and developing cricket stadia in the US and the possibility of Americans bidding for future events such as the IPL-inspired Champions League Twenty20 were discussed by the two bosses at a meeting in Dubai.

'The IPL has established itself as a truly global sporting league with its fans spanning the globe. The North American continent has emerged as the second largest market in terms of revenue and viewership for Indian cricket,' Modi said in a statement.

'Our meeting with the team from USA Cricket was very encouraging and we are confident of taking the IPL to the USA in the near future. I have no doubt that with the presence of a strong and growing South Asian diaspora, cricket will soon become a popular sport in the US.'

'USA Cricket has done a lot of good work, ably led by Donald. This is validated by the fact that the ICC has invited USA Cricket to participate in the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier in Dubai starting this month,' Modi said.

The IPL and USA Cricket have also agreed to work jointly on a master plan to bring the IPL to the US and will meet again to form a working group in May 2010 and take the process ahead.

The IPL is confident that resultant of the Dubai meeting, the league's franchisee teams should begin to play in America as early as 2011, with modified versions of the fastest growing sporting league in the world also on the radar for the US.

'Lalit knows the American landscape and its competitive importance in the world to marketing any great product. The IPL is a powerful new product in the sports industry and we will work hard to see USA Cricket and the IPL succeed together and energize the growth of cricket in our country,' said Lockerbie.