‘IPl venue by March 5’
Nagpur: The suspense over the venues for this year’s IPl is all set to end on March 5 when the BCCI will take a decision on the matter in a meeting here, Board vice-president Rajiv Shukla revealed on Sunday. “The BCCI president has been authorised to take a decision,” Shukla told reporters, adding that the matches may not be played in the country because of the general elections due in April-May. Therefore, the BCCI has options of holding the matches in South Africa, Bangladesh and United Arab Emirates, said the Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs. “We are in touch with the Home Ministry and a decision will be taken on March 5. Sri lanka, the fourth venue which was under consideration, has been ruled out for hosting the matches due to prospect of rains in the island country during the period. We are keen to allow half of the tournament to be conducted outside the country and bring it back to India when the general elections are over in May,” said Shukla.
Gujarat beat Baroda
Rajkot: Gujarat beat Baroda by 73 runs in the West Zone Vijay Hazare trophy tie at the Madhavrao Scindia cricket ground here, on the back of a spectacular half century by Rohit Bhatt and all-round performance by Jesal Karia. Gujarat made 239 for 8 after they won the toss and opted to bat first In response, Baroda could pull off merely 166 runs in 38.2 overs. This was the third consecutive win by Gujarat team. Gujarat had a shaky start but Rohit Bhatt rescued them with 86. Agencies