The second edition of the much-awaited Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 championship is scheduled to begin on April 18 with first match at Newlands, Cape Town between last year champion Rajasthan Royals and Bangalore Royal Challengers.

The match will commence with a glittering opening ceremony at Newlands before the first match.

The semi-finals and the final will be held at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on May 24.

The domestic Indian cricket tournament, comprising players from all across the world, was forced to shift from India to South Africa following government concern over security arrangements in an election year, as the earlier schedule were overlapping with the general elections starting from next month.

The Board of Cricket Control for India (BCCI) and IPL organisers had then decided to stage this mega sporting event in South Africa with all logistic and security support from the South African cricket board and government.