IPL-5 starts on April 4 in Chennai

The fifth edition of the Indian Premier League will be held from April 4 to May 27, 2012, with the inaugural match to be played in Chennai.

The IPL Governing Council, after its meeting in Hyderabad on Friday, decided that player regulation, including participation of Pakistani players, and trading modalities of the auction, will be discussed at the next meeting, the dates of which were not announced.

"The dates of the DLF IPL 2012 were confirmed. The tournament will begin in Chennai on 4 April 2012, and end on 27 May 2012. An opening ceremony will be held in Chennai on 3 April, a day before the inaugural game," read a statement from BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale.

"The player regulation and trading modalities will be discussed at the next meeting of the GC," it added.

Regarding the format and structure of the tournament, the Governing Council has asked the management team to come back with options.

The Governing Council, which met under the chairmanship of IPL's new boss Rajiv Shukla, also approved various operational items for the forthcoming IPL season.