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There is talk that Cape Town might lose the IPL opening weekend matches if certain terms and conditions are not met by the end of today.

Andre Oodendal of the Western Province Cricket Association was interviewed on Capetalk this morning and spoke in solemn tones about Newlands being at loggerheads with a whole host of people.

Here’s the story:

The Members Pavillion at Newlands is owned by the Western Province Cricket Club and the rest of the stadium by the Western Province Cricket Association.

Cricket SA meanwhile went ahead and confirmed the use of Newlands, as well as other cricket grounds around the country without telling the Indian Premier League management about the legalities involved in Cape Town in particular.

Everyone who attends cricket at Newlands (and probably other grounds around the world) will know that members consider themselves the elite of cricket supporters. That’s the part of the ground that normally gets booed during the Mexican Wave! Usually there aren’t too many people sitting in the Members Stand, so they probably don’t hear the booing.

We are told that the Indian Premier League people are not happy with the situation – besides members, suite holders are the other parties on the hit list.

The IPL wants those suites to entertain their guests.

Letters have been sent to suite holders telling them that the matches might be moved if they did not give up their suites.

Suites are rented/leased for a period by sponsors, and as business people they probably understand business better than most of us ordinary folk.

They have been offered 24 seats – per sponsor – in one of the pavillions as well as hospitality priveleges. That situation seems to be more likely to be solved.

After a 5 hour meeting yesterday with the IPL, CSA, WPCA and who knows who else, the situation is still up in the air. Another meeting is scheduled for this afternoon.

Having sold out tickets for the opening weekend within hours, the likelihood of the matches being cancelled must be very slim, although the possibility exists.

Just listening to the arrogant tone of club members phoning into Capetalk, it doesn’t look like the club will be giving up their seats very easily, even though the South African cricket season is all but over done with for the year.

Hopefully it can all be sorted out by this afternoon, because Capetonians will not take well to their cricket games being cancelled!