A day after the attack on Sri Lankan cricket team; back home questions raised on security for the IPL that clashes with the elections
Yesterday’s terror attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team which left at least 6 players injured, 7 dead has raised serious security concerns. Pakistani media reports suggest usual security procedures were not followed during the entire series.
And the attack against the Sri Lankan cricketers has also raised security concerns over the Indian Premier League that incidentally clash with the general elections. In fact, Home Minister P Chidambaram has called for the IPL matches to be rescheduled.
The chairman of IPL, Lalit Modi, in a statement has said that IPL matches will not take place 24 to 48 hours prior to the polling dates. A new reworked schedule will be out in a few hours.
Meanwhile, N.Srinivasan of the BCCI and the owner of the Chennai Super Kings clarified that the it may not be possible to change the entire calendar of the IPL since it takes into account schedules of several international tournaments.
Lalit Modi, Chairman of IPL said that he appreciate the concern that the Home Minister has shared. BCCI will work with the Home Secretary and reschedule the matches in cities around elections and it was always its plan to do that. BCCI has taken that into account while putting out the schedule. After the aftermath of the Mumbai incident, and the England tour to India, BCCI persuaded the English Team to come back with a reviewed plan for the Chennai test and put in a plan that was acceptable to all and executed it well. BCCI is using the Chennai template as far as the IPL is concerned going forward.
Home Minister P Chidambaram said that IPL and general elections are not sustainable simultaneously due to security reasons and wants IPL to be postponed to after elections. He said that complete reschedule is not possible due to completely packed international calendar. England players are not available between June-September.
Delhi Daredevils is owned by GMR, Chennai Superkings is owned by India Cement, Deccan Chargers is owned by Deccan Chronicle, Bangalore Royal Challengers is owned by UB Group, Mumbai Indians is owned by Reliance Industries and Kings XI Punjab is partly owned by Wadia Group which owns Bombay Dyeing.
Related posts:
