Security fears put the IPL in doubt.

Security fears hit India's IPL

2009-03-04 10:43





Kevin Pietersen


New Delhi - Indian Premier League bosses battled to save their multi-million-dollar tournament on Wednesday after a government call for it to be postponed for security reasons.
In the wake of Tuesday's deadly assault on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Pakistan, questions are also being asked about whether the top world players signed up by the IPL will be prepared to play in South Asia.
The Mumbai siege in late November dealt a massive blow to India's security image, and fears over safety across the region will have been exacerbated by the gun and grenade attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore.
Home minister P. Chidambaram said on Tuesday said he would be "stretched" to provide adequate security to the popular Twenty20 tournament, as it clashes with general elections in April and May.
"Since the election dates are unalterable, I have asked to find out if the dates of the IPL can be rescheduled," Chidambaram told reporters.
"I would be happy if the tournament starts when the bulk of the polls is over."
The IPL is due to be played across 10 cities in India from April 10 to May 24. The parliamentary elections will be held in five phases between April 16 and May 13.
Chidambaram's comments came hours after the attack on the Sri Lankan team which injured seven players and an assistant coach and killed eight Pakistanis -- six of them policemen escorting their convoy to the stadium.
IPL officials insisted the tournament will not be postponed, citing a lack of alternative dates in an already crowded calendar, but agreed to adjustments so matches do not clash with voting in a particular city.
"There is no chance of postponing the IPL," tournament commissioner Lalit Modi told Indian media.
"We have taken into account government sensibilities, but I am sure even the Home Minister would not want the whole country to come to a standstill during the elections."
Home ministry officials are expected to meet IPL bosses over the next few days to resolve the matter, although reports say the government is determined to see the 59-match tournament postponed.
There are also concerns on whether international players will be willing to set foot on the sub-continent following the Lahore attack.
The biggest draw this year would be the first IPL appearance for England stars Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff, who were signed for a record $1.55m each per year.
The Mumbai attacks last November has already forced the postponement by a year of the IPL-backed Champions League, featuring the top Twenty20 teams from Australia, South Africa, England, Pakistan and India.
"If I were one of the England guys who signed up for the Indian Premier League, I would be concerned," former England coach Duncan Fletcher wrote in the Guardian newspaper.
"The attacks in Mumbai called into question even the safety of the best hotels. What cricketer is going to start thinking about runs and wickets when there are these more serious matters to consider?"
Former England captain Mike Atherton, however, told The Times he hoped the IPL would go ahead.
"If cricket in India takes a blow, then it's almost the end of cricket as a truly international sport -- it becomes an enclave of a few countries here and there.
"It's vitally important it continues to be played on the sub-continent."
Although IPL officials insist that international players will turn up, one official from a top team conceded the tournament could not go ahead without the support of the government and its security agencies.
"No one wants to take a chance in these difficult times," the official told AFP on condition of anonymity. "One mad person could ruin everything."
Australian captain Ricky Ponting, who was contracted with Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan's Kolkata Knightriders, has already pulled out of this year's IPL, citing commitments for his country.

Silver lining....

Freddie and KP told that they could be sitting ducks if they went to the IPL to play. I would imagine Aussie players would be equally at risk.

Flintoff, KP to avoid IPL?





Andrew Flintoff




London - Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen have been warned they risk becoming "sitting ducks" for terrorists if they play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the wake of the attack on the Sri Lankan team in Pakistan.
Former England coach Duncan Fletcher has warned English cricket's biggest names that, based on his experience, some types of terrorist attacks are easier to carry out in India than in Pakistan.
Writing in Wednesday's Guardian, Fletcher recalled how the England tour party he took to Pakistan in 2005/06 had been criticised for the "presidential" level of security surrounding their trip, with roads to stadiums cleared and lined with armed guards.
"It provided some comfort at least," he wrote. "Nothing is 100% but you sure as hell want that percentage to be as high as possible in your favour.
"India is different. The traffic is often so bad in the big cities where a lot of the cricket is played that the coach can move along only slowly at times, which turns it into a sitting duck for terrorists.
Fletcher added: "There is nothing stopping a tuk-tuk pulling up alongside and detonating a bomb. I would be very nervous because that kind of attack is much easier to carry out in India -- and these guys can attack when they like."
Pietersen and Flintoff are among 11 English players bought at last month's IPL auction.
Even before the Pakistan attack, Flintoff's participation had been in doubt because of a hip injury and no England players will be able to take part if -- as is being considered -- the tournament is delayed.
IPL bosses are reviewing alternative dates after the Indian government said it would be difficult to ensure adequate security for the tournament because it overlaps with elections due to take place in April and May.

I'm sure the Indian security would be much tighter than the Pak 'security' provided.

FFS how can you call that security when you can get surrounded like the Sri Lankan bus did???!!

Red wrote:Fletcher added: "There is nothing stopping a tuk-tuk pulling up alongside and detonating a bomb. I would be very nervous because that kind of attack is much easier to carry out in India -- and these guys can attack when they like."

umm, yes. happens every day in india, happened a few times when england toured but luckily the players escaped unscathed. leave security risk analysis to the experts fletch

'these guys' are not in india anyways. after what happened in bombay any type of infiltration will be much harder

any type of infiltration will be much harder

You'd hope so atleast.

Anyways, having hung around hotels and roads trying to catch a glimpse of the teams and perhaps get an autograph, the security provided here is big. I'm sure the England bus wasn't left off on it's own at any time.

Flintoff is injured and wont play in the IPL anyway.

SYDNEY: Leading Australian cricketers have vowed to play in the Indian Premier League next month, saying they will not give in to terrorism after this week's attack on the Sri Lankan team in Pakistan.

The brazen attack as the team headed to a Lahore stadium for the third day of the second Test against Pakistan left six police and two civilians dead, while seven Sri Lankan cricketers and a coach were among 19 people wounded.

Former England coach Duncan Fletcher has warned English cricketers heading to the IPL that, based on his experience, some types of terror attacks are easier to carry out in India than in Pakistan.

But Australia's top cricketers led by high-profile paceman Brett Lee say they still want to play in the IPL.

"We can't let this stop us going about what we do with our lives," Lee told The Daily Telegraph.

Lee was joined by Nathan Bracken, Dave Hussey, Shane Watson, Brad Hodge and Dave Warner, who said they would not be persuaded to skip the IPL competition.

"It's concerning that terrorism is impacting the sport," Bracken said. "But I'll still be going."

On Wednesday, India's home minister said he wanted the IPL tournament postponed because it clashed with general elections and security forces would be stretched to provide protection for both events.

With many of the world's leading players set to arrive in India next month, the Federation of International Cricketers (FICA) has written to IPL organisers seeking increased security.

"We owe to it the game and all of its stakeholders to ensure that at all times cricket has not only access to, but implements 'best practice' security," FICA chief executive Tim May said.

"We should leave no stone unturned in the search and implementation of such advice and procedures."

Australian all-rounder Shane Watson, who plays under Shane Warne for the Rajasthan Royals, said he would be happy to go to India if FICA were able to meet the required security standards.

"You're never safe anywhere, to be fair," Watson said. "It's part and parcel of the world environment at the moment, more than just a certain region.

"I love playing cricket and if the opportunity is there to go to India, I will be there with bells on."

West Australian and Mohali coach Tom Moody, who also coached many of the Sri Lankan players injured in Lahore, said that terrorists could not be allowed to be seen to win.

"We can't step away and seem that we're beaten because of these individual acts," Moody said.

"I'm sure security will be lifted to maximum level and players and officials should be able to be safe going forward, whether it's the IPL or other tours in parts of the sub-continent."