Ahmedabad is being considered as an alternative venue for the much-debated Punjab Kings-Mumbai Indians match. Whether the shift will take place eventually will be known in a couple of hours, but the Narendra Modi Stadium is being considered as an option. The Gujarat Cricket Association is being kept in the loop.
A venue change is being necessitated in view of the closure of the airports in Chandigarh as well as Dharamsala. Cricbuzz understands that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has sought the view of the GCA and the association is believed to have conveyed its readiness.
The date of the match will remain unchanged and will be played on May 11 as per the original schedule. The new venue will be announced in a few hours.
Punjab Kings officials maintain that they have received no communication either way. The team continues its preparations for the match against Delhi Capitals, scheduled for Thursday night at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala.
However, with the airport shut, logistics remain a challenge for the BCCI. In the absence of flights, the team may have to face a 10-hour road journey to Delhi just to connect to other IPL centres.
One inevitable dilemma as a fallout of the shift in an operational issue – the branding in and around the ground. The Narendra Modi Stadium being the base of Gujarat Titans, it is covered with GT brands, hoardings and posters. Whether Punjab Kings, who are the designated hosts of the match, will agree to play in such a backdrop remains a question mark. The GCA is understood to have told the BCCI the Titans are needed to be consulted.
The Titans have two home games – on May 14 (against Lucknow SuperGiants) and May 18 (against Chennai Super Kings) – in addition to an away fixture against Delhi Capitals on the night of May 11. Given the tight schedule, rebranding such a large venue in time poses a major operational challenge for all involved, but it could well be an unavoidable requirement.
