New Delhi: The latest casualty of terror could be the Indian Premiere League (IPL) as the attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore has rattled the cricketing world.
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary N Srinivasan has written a letter to the Central Government saying that the IPL will not ask for central security forces but will ask states to provide security during the Twenty20 tournament.
Srinivasan also said the BCCI can provide private security for IPL matches and that there would only be minor changes in the schedule of the matches which are clashing with voting dates during the General Elections at some centres.
But state DGPs have informed the Central Government that they can't provide security for IPL as they themselves need central forces for the elections.
The BCCI has also told the Government that it will not hold any match 72 hours before and after polling in any city.
Tuesday's terror attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore has clearly rattled the cricketing world with many IPL team owners and even some players expressing apprehensions about the security scenario.
Meanwhile, former BCCI President Sharad Pawar was quoted by a news agency as saying, “I don't think in India one should worry (about security) like Pakistan. I don't think that type of situation is here. Our security forces are quite competent and public is alert."
Pawar, however, insisted that he was not authorised to comment on IPL affairs since he was no longer the BCCI president.
Difficult to provide security: Chidambaram
Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday made it clear that it would be very difficult to provide security to cricketers and IPL match venues due to Lok Sabha elections.
However, IPL Chairman and Commissioner Lalit Modi said the tournament won't be postponed following the attacks on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore.
In response to Chidambaram's concern over security for the tournament that clashes with the General Elections in the country, Modi said the tournament will only be rescheduled to avoid any clash with the polls.
"Post the Election Commission announcing the polling dates, the Indian Premier League is working on the schedule to ensure that there is no clash of IPL matches with the election dates. The IPL is fully cognizant of the importance of General Elections in a country such as ours," he said.
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