Under fire and taking hits, Lalit Modi is doing everything in his power to ensure that the IPL will not be relegated to the back burner, with a few compromises along the way.
While FICA, the international cricketers’ body, wants the BCCI and IPL to talk to the players regarding security concerns, the IPL Committee is in frantic efforts to ensure that the dates of the IPL do not clash with Lok Sabha elections and related electoral issues, in a bid to ensure that the security alarm raised can be withdrawn.
While the politicians have been getting on the case as also the police forces in several states over the possibility of compromise in providing security for the cricket event in India, Modi is trying to revise and revise dates to ensure there are no clashes that will see the police force divided in their duties.
With contentious issues that IPL could even be taken out of India to ensure security as well as allay the fear of foreign cricketers, Modi has rubbished both rumours and has stated firmly that India will host the second season of the IPL.
Modi told waiting media persons, “”We are in touch with all states and will shortly have a new schedule out. Let me assure fans and sponsors that the IPL is on and there is no question of the IPL moving to another country. We are working on a new schedule, it’s a cumbersome process. What we have decided is that there will be no match in any city on the day of counting there.”
He also touched upon the fact that the IPL could be looking at other venues other than those featured last year, making it clear by thanking P. Chidambaram, the Home Minister, for the support that the latter had only requested that dates been adjusted in keeping with the elections to avoid lapses in security.
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