Start of Indian Premier League play to be delayed

Organizers of India's new six-team football league say the inaugural tournament is being postponed as they work through tricky logistics for the first time.

The first match had been scheduled for March 24, but Indian Football Association secretary Utpal Ganguli says organizers are still working to set up systems and secure the six venues in West Bengal state.

He says a new start date will be announced soon, and that "one wants to be sure of all the logistics since this is the first tournament being held of this magnitude.''

India is hoping the new league - stacked with semiretired world pros like Robert Pires and Fabio Cannavaro - will boost football's popularity in the cricket-crazy country and attract fans who now follow European clubs.