The IPL Qualifier 2 and the Eliminator will be played in The Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in the upcoming IPL season which is scheduled to start from April 7. The IPL Governing Council on Friday awarded the two playoff games this season to Pune, Acting on the plea made by the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA). “For the play-off, there was a proposal that since Rising Pune Supergiant (which is now expired) was the runners-up last time, we should give first preference to Pune.
After the GC meeting on Friday, IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla said,” If the Pune stadium and the wicket are ready, the priority would be given to Pune, if not, then we will consider Kolkata for the playoffs,”. The matches will be played on 23rd and 25th May at the MCA stadium in Gahunje on May 23 and 25.
The second qualifier and The Eliminator of the playoffs are regularly held at the home venue of the previous season’s runners-up. Going by the logic Pune would have been the automatic choice, but since Rising Pune Supergiant is no longer part of the tournament, Uttar Pradesh and Bengal had been pushing to host the games. MCA president Abhay Apte in an e-mail, wrote to IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla, stressing on the “unwritten rule” that the previous year’s runners-up host the playoff games.
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