IPL matches scheduled to be held in Chennai, to be shifted out to another venue after Cauvery Protests: Sources

IPL matches in Chennai are likely to be shifted out of the city after BCCI announced has short-listed four cities to host Chennai Super King's home matches after the IPL franchise was told to consider shifting base due to the Cauvery water dispute, which has created a volatile political situation in the state, CoA chief Vinod Rai said.

This comes after protests over the Cauvery issue before and after CSK's IPL match against KKR which saw traffic across Chennai and fans being harrased while reaching the stadium besides a shoe being thrown towards Ravindra Jadeja while he was fielding .

Ticket sales for the match between Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals on 20.04.18 has been postponed, Further details will be intimated in due course, Tamil Nadu Cricket Association(TNCA) had told ANI.

According to IPL sources, Visakhapatnam is front-runner from among the four cities, the other three being Trivandrum, Pune and Rajkot.

There were already calls by various groups not to host cricket matches in the city when the state was facing such a grave situation.

"We are thinking on the lines of shifting the IPL matches from Chennai. There are four alternative venues that BCCI has kept ready. They are Visakhapatnam, Trivandrum, Pune and Rajkot. CSK can play their matches at these venues," Rai told PTI.

"We have to keep in mind the prevailing political and security situation in the state. But we have told the CSK franchise to evaluate the current situation and take a final call in this regard. It will be CSK's decision," Rai, a former Comptroller and Auditor General, said.

According to information received, CSK CEO Kashi Vishwanathan is speaking to police authorities and trying to take a stock of the situation.

"There are a lot of options that we are mulling. There is a possibility that our next home match on April 20 against Rajasthan Royals will be an away match in Jaipur. In the meantime, we can decide upon a substitute venue. There are a lot of things that comes under consideration. Ticketing, marketing, entire logistical movements, in stadia. Hopefully, a call will be taken tomorrow," a CSK insider told PTI today.

IPL's most popular franchise CSK has made a comeback to the League after serving two-year suspension on charges of spot-fixing in 2013.

IPL sources says Visakhapatnam is likely to be picked by the CSK management due to logistical reasons.

However, CSK are not playing a home match before April 20 and situation may get better before the clash against Rajasthan Royals.

IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla had also spoken to the Union Home Secretary on Tuesday, seeking government intervention in smooth conduct of IPL matches in Chennai.