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IPL in talks to stage games in USA

The Indian Premier League is exploring the possibility of broadening its horizons by staging games like the Champions League Twenty20 in the US as early as next year.

IPL chairman Lalit Modi held talks here Thursday with the CEO of USA Cricket, Donald Lockerbie, to discuss bringing the IPL to North America and also to look at allowing top American cricketers to play in the IPL.

The IPL wants the league’s franchisee teams to begin playing in America as early as 2011.

Modi, in an interview on the IPL’s official website, said: “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. 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....cricket will soon become a popular sport in the USA.”

Lockerbie commented: “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.”