'IPL has changed the landscape of cricket'

The Twenty20 event was moved from India to South Africa at short notice because of General Elections in India.

The Indian government had expressed its inability to provide the kind of security a tournament of the magnitude of the IPL required if it was held during the General Elections, which forced the IPL to look for a venue outside the country.

“Internationally, it has changed the landscape of world cricket. Properly handled, the IPL concept will bring about the real globalisation of the sport for the first time.

“This should enable the longer forms of cricket to prosper, but only if they are made to be publicly attractive in the 21st century and beyond,” Majola said.

Majola declared the IPL a resounding success, and said all parties involved should feel proud of the collective effort.

“CSA’s main reason for taking on the challenge of hosting the IPL was to assist an ICC member country who had problems hosting a major tournament for reasons beyond its control,” he said.

“We knew that CSA had the climate, facilities, know-how and a cricket-loving public to back up the successful hosting of this second IPL tournament even at this short notice.

To see it all come together with a full house at the Wanderers for the final was incredible,” Majola said.

Majola also feels that the IPL has given young South African cricketers a great platform to prepare for the T20 World Cup next month.

“It has given a number of young South African cricketers a chance to play top level cricket against, and with, many of the world’s greatest stars. This will give them huge confidence going into the forthcoming ICC World Twenty20 in England,” he said.