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"We need to take a decision by tomorrow, one way or the other and we will have a decision by tomorrow night," Modi said shortly before leaving for Johannesburg.
The chairman of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will travel to South Africa and England in an effort to finalise an overseas venue for this year's edition of the Twenty20 competition.
The Indian cricket board announced on Sunday that it would stage next month's event abroad after failing to get government clearance for security cover because the tournament dates clashed with the country's general elections.
"I'll be visiting both England and South Africa in the next 24 hours," IPL chief Lalit Modi said.
Modi was quoted as saying in a TV channel that wet weather and packed hotel rooms around the London marathon on April 26 were concerns in England.
"One overwhelming factor in England is the weather for us," Modi told the channel.
"England have very easy connectivity from eight or nine Indian cities. There are a lot of South Asian fans.
"The other big issue is England is already preparing for the Twenty20 World Cup and all grounds are ready.
"(But) there is 70 percent chance that rain can disrupt games in the month of May."
The Indian board said the second edition would have to be played on its original dates between April 10 and May 24 due to the cramped international calendar and that that they were in discussions with interested boards willing to host the event.
SECOND SCHEDULE
However, Modi mentioned the possibility of a second schedule with an April 17 start as the Lord's ground would be unavailable on April 10.
Modi said the venue could be finalised by Tuesday night after he concluded his meeting with England cricket authorities.
England is to host the Twenty20 World Cup from June 5. India are the defending champions.
"It would make sense in having the event in England as it would help our cricketers prepare for the Twenty20 World Cup," India's bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad told Indian media.
The decision to move the event overseas for lack of security has been the subject of a national debate in the cricket-crazy nation, with some calling it politically motivated.
The country's two biggest political parties have traded barbs over IPL's decision, the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) calling it a "national shame".
Home Minister P Chidambaram hit back on Monday, saying: "It appears that IPL is more than a game. It is a shrewd combination of sport and business. There is no reason to add politics to this combination."
Indian fans and cricketers were disheartened by the shift.
"It is disappointing that the IPL has been moved out of India. We will certainly miss playing in front of our supporters. It won't be the same," Sachin Tendulkar was quoted by media.
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Sachin Tendulkar, are you not going to cast your vote? And what about you, Mr Modi?
It would disappoint to all the indians due to move out of india.Many cricket fans wouldn't enjoy the match as they could see live.But it should be better to organize IPL out of india because of security as we know about LAHORE terrorist attack on shri lankan cricket players and the other one Lok sabha election. I think the indian government would not be able to organize perfact security because the Lok Sabha election would have to be held so it would be few lake of complecency.
Indian is the land of world’s biggest democracy and parliamentary election is its yardstick. Election time come once in five year. It’s the time for people to listen, speak and observe the on going debate among various political parties. And by confining TV prime time for IPL is sheer sense of madness. We are the people of democratic country and the respect for democracy is ingrained in us. Lalit Modi is taking leverage of his right, he must think over this. Cricket matches can be rescheduled and by doing this Lalait Modi can show his respect to the nation.
This Chairman of IPL Mr.Lalit Modi is behaving like a child. Why the Governemnts ( State
I think media is speculating much on this issue, when there are other burning issues like poverty, unemployment, corruption, recession etc prevailing in our country. We can also see dirty politics involvement in this. Central
It is cristal clear the BCCI and IPL official dont care about the security of the players or fans. All they want they dont want to loose their business though the Indian fans disheartened.