Security fears force IPL move from India
Malcolm Conn | March 23, 2009
Article from The Australian
IN a damning indictment of the deteriorating security situation on the subcontinent, the Indian Premier League has been forced to shift its half-billion dollar tournament out of the country. The tournament's clash with elections over the next two months, raising government concerns about security, has prompted the extraordinary move. South Africa and England are being explored as alternate venues.
The decision to shift the IPL from India will continue to increase fears over the region's ability to host the next World Cup in 2011. The hosts are listed as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. However, Pakistan is no chance after the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan bus and match officials this month, Bangladesh recently ruled out future sporting tours following a mutiny in which dozens of officers were killed and the security situation in Sri Lanka has escalated with the ongoing civil war.
Now India is unable to host the most lucrative cricket tournament in the world, the IPL, which contains many of the game's biggest stars from around the globe. The security of players became a major issue in India after the Mumbai terrorist attacks in late November and the specific targeting by armed militants of the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore. "Due to the attitude of the government that it cannot provide security for the tournament, we are forced to take a decision to move the IPL out of India," the country's cricket chief Shashank Manohar said. "A final decision on the venue will be announced in two to three days." IPL commissioner Lalit Modi said the 59-match event would still be held between April 10 and May 24 as originally scheduled. Manohar said he wanted to "apologise to the people of India for moving the tournament", but stressed the cricket board was not left with any other option. "The tournament generated a lot of interest last year and we wanted the same to happen this year. It will still be popular, whether it is watched at the ground or on television."
The Indian government declined to release security forces needed to guard the tournament because of the five-phase parliamentary elections that will take place at almost the same time, from April 16 to May 13. Federal Home Minister P. Chidambaram said last week that the elections were "unquestionably" first priority for the government. "I can't exempt any state government from giving to the election commission the forces they have promised," Chidambaram said. "I have also made it clear that I cannot spare any central paramilitary forces (for the IPL)."
Manohar said: "We're in discussion with some foreign cricket boards who have shown interest. The venue for this year's IPL will be decided soon." Following emphatic denials, Cricket South Africa last night confirmed it had received an official request from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to be a possible host for the second edition of the IPL. "We received an official approach this morning to be one of several options they are considering to host the tournament outside India," said CSA chief executive Gerald Majola. "We do not know what the other options are and it is not for us to comment on that."
This follows the International Cricket Council's request for CSA to host the Champions Trophy this year after it was moved out of Pakistan. CSA approached its various associations this week and sounded them out about hosting the IPL at as many as 12 venues.
