Security worries are causing trouble for the planned second season of anew Indian cricket league. India's home minister says the matchescannot be played as originally scheduled because elite forces will needto provide security for national elections. The concern comes in wakeof this week's attack in Lahore, Pakistan on Sri Lanka's cricket team.
Securityfor national polling takes precedence over sports. That is what thecabinet minister tasked with India's internal security is tellingofficials of the Indian Premier League, known as the IPL. The cricketleague's second season is scheduled from April 10 through May 24 ineight cities. India is to hold its first national election in fiveyears between mid-April and mid-May.
Home Minister PalaniappanChidambaram, speaking to reporters in Hyderabad Friday called that anunacceptable conflict from the standpoint of security.
"Cricketwhen played in India is completely safe. Nobody need worry aboutplaying cricket in India or the safety of anyone. All I'm saying is thedates have to be re-jigged so I can provide paramilitary forces, ifnecessary," he said.
IPL commissioner Lalit Modi says hostcities are being shifted so as to not conflict with polling and nomatches will occur when the ballots are being tabulated.
"Theday of the counting there will be no matches in any city because wewant to assure that the counting is going on and there are no matchestaking place on that day. Otherwise the schedule is being adjusted upand down and we will have a revised schedule out," he said.
TheIPL includes star cricketers from abroad playing a faster-paced versionof the game (known as 20-20), debuted last year. It has become a bigfinancial success for its franchise holders and broadcasters airing thematches.
Indian officials say this week's suspected terroristattack in Lahore, Pakistan, on the Sri Lankan national cricket team,which left six policemen and a driver dead, highlights the need forreinforced security surrounding high-profile sporting events.
TheIndian home minister says the Lahore attack, with gunmen carryingautomatic weapons, grenades and a rocket launcher, reinforces thenecessity for Pakistan to crack down hard on militants within its ownborders.
"The entire terrorist infrastructure must bedismantled. If that terror infrastructure remains intact, it's likeriding a tiger. And you know what happens to somebody who rides atiger. They have to dismantle the terror infrastructure and declarezero tolerance for any kind of terrorist activity," he said.
KevinRudd, the prime minister of Australia, home to two officials whosurvived the attack, says he wants answers from Pakistan on how up to12 men were able to carry out the 20-minute assault. Several Sri Lankanplayers were wounded.
No one has claimed responsibility for theattack. Pakistan has made some arrests and says it has identified thosewho conducted the attacks, but is not releasing details.
Threatsthat curtail cricket matches have ramifications beyond the pitch as itis the most popular sport in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.And to many observers cricket is what continues to give thesub-continent a common bond in the post-colonial era.