PL team owners worried about security, polls

New Delhi: The General Elections seems to have cast a shadow over the second season of the Indian Premier League with team owners raising concern about players security after the Home Ministry said that providing security to teams and match venues will due to Lok Sabha polls.

Now IPL team owners, too, are raising concern about players’ security after Tuesday's attack on Sri Lankan players in Lahore.

Rajasthan Royals co-owner Shilpa Shetty said that the IPL must ensure security for all players involved in the Twenty20 tournament.

"The only thing that IPL board can do at this point is to beef up the security. It's a really sad day for sports... for such an unfortunate thing to happen. But I am trying to be positive and I empathise with the cricketers who have suffered, the Sri Lankan cricketers, and the umpire who got hurt," said Shipla.

Shilpa's views were echoed by Kings XI Punjab Preity Zinta, who also expressed apprehensions about the security scenario.

"Every cricketer and person is worried about the attacks carried out on a cricket team. It's important that people should not panic. All team owners will have to make sure that adequate security is given to the cricketers," said Zinta referring to the attack on Sri Lankan team in which six players and an umpire was injured.

"We have full faith in the Government of India. We request the government to keep the players and tournament safe. That’s a government decision we respect. Within the stadium and outside we will be having our own security. We have to look at the brighter side. The idea of terrorism is to infuse fear. I hope that there would be great security," said Zinta.

Zinta also said that changing dates of IPL matches might create some problem.

"None of Punjab XI players have expressed concerns on security but rescheduling is a concern for every team. It's extremely important for people to go and vote as well. We will work around the schedules. It takes time to set up the tournament schedule. We set up the schedule in two months time," Zinta said about some IPL matches clashing with Lok Sabha election dates.

Meanwhile, international cricketers, too, have begun voicing their concern over the IPL.

"I think there are definite questions to be asked. The IPL has given me an economic freedom that I didn't even dream about, but I have a family now. Cricket's important, but it is not as important as my life. Lalit Modi and the IPL have given assurances that the security will be beefed up for the event. I'll be thinking twice, before going to play in the sub-continent," New Zealand all-rounder Jacob Oram, who plays for the Chennai Super Kings, said.

Oram's concerns were echoed by the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations' (FICA) Chief Executive Tim May.

"We have written to the Indian Premier League on behalf of our members requesting ability for player representatives to be involved in the evaluation and construction of security for the Event. An increasing number of players have expressed a desire for an independent level of comfort surrounding security arrangements for this Event," said May.