CRICKET POLL

The Punjab Kings-Mumbai Indians match on May 11 has been officially moved from Dharamsala to Ahmedabad, the BCCI has confirmed.

A venue change was 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) sought the view of the GCA and the association is believed to have conveyed its readiness.

The date and timings of the match will remain unchanged and the game between two playoffs chasing side will get underway at 3.30 PM IST on May 11 as per the original schedule.

It has been learned that Mumbai Indians, who have been standing by to hear from the BCCI about their travel since Wednesday, will be leaving for Ahmedabad on Thursday evening. The BCCI is understood to have told the franchise to confirm the details by this evening. As reported by Cricbuzz earlier, the MI team had cancelled the planned travel to Dharamsala via Chandigarh on Wednesday in view of the closure of the airports.

However, with the airport shut, logistics remain a challenge for the BCCI and the Punjab Kings. In the absence of flights, Shreyas Iyer's 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.