2009 IPL Cricket matches Season 2 Starts in APRIL 18

After so many speculation about the IPL Indian Premier League Season 2 Host, South Africa will be hosting the second season and the matches are going to start on April 18.

The deal was sealed after IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi met Cricket South Africa CEO Gerald Majola on Tuesday afternoon and South Africa agreed to offer full support to the IPL.South Africa have also assured top security during the mega event.

"I am delighted to announce that we have reached a decision to host the 2009 season of the Indian Premier League in South Africa. To move the event out of India has been one of the hardest decisions the Board of Control for Cricket in India has had to take."But I am confident that staging the IPL in South Africa will be a massive success for us," said lalit Modi at a press conference in Johannesburg.

Durban, Cape Town, Bloemfontein, Pretoria, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth will be the venues for the second season of the IPL in South Africa.

The opening ceremony will be held in Cape Town. The 59 matches will be played in the six stadiums across the country at prime time of 4 pm and 8 pm IST. According to the original schedule, the IPL was to kick off from April 10 but it is being reported that the reason for postponing the tournament is to give the Indian players a breather. India will be finishing their current tour of New Zealand on April 7.