Chennai, March 29: IPL’s shift to South Africa happened under special circumstances, according to Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary N. Srinivisan.

"It was not an easy decision but it was crucial to go ahead with the second edition of the IPL," said Srinivasan, who as CMD of India Cements is also owner of Chennai Super Kings.

"This (the shift) was not our wish. It happened under extraordinary circumstances.

"In the interest of everyone connected with the tournament, particularly the players and spectators, the event had to go on. A year’s break would not have been good for IPL," he said in an interview to this newspaper.

Television revenue is set to improve, with surveys suggesting there will be a bigger TV audience for the IPL than 2008.

The same though cannot be said on the adverse effect it has had on the traditional version of the game. Test matches are being played in front of empty stands, a trend that needs to be arrested quickly.

Srinivasan however is not ready to hit the panic button. "If we expect Test venues to get filled as before it may not be possible. The eyeball even on Test cricket is improving all the time and that is a step in the right direction," he said.

With television revenue dictating how the game evolves, the BCCI has also been blamed for being driven by money. Srinivasan finds this very hard to take.

"It is a serious misconception that the board is behind money. The amount of money that goes back into the development of the game and infrastructure is conveniently forgotten.

The media has also not highlighted the good work and welfare schemes being run by the board."