equatorSince the Mumbai attacks, there has been the odd rumbling about the IPL and safety.
Nothing major, just little tid bits.
I never truly believed the IPL would be in danger.
Its too big, too strong, and too finanicially important.
Perhaps I was wrong.
The IPL is set for the same time as the Indian general elections, a time when terrorism could already be happening, and India’s home minister a MR P Chidambaram thinks the IPL should be moved.
I think this is an UnIndian comment, surely the general election should be moved.
Had he said this before tuesday, which he may have as well, it would have gotten alot less coverage.
Now it gets covereage, it gets credence, and it may just mean the IPL has to find a new date.
Our man Lalit is on the case, but changing the dates at this stage would surely be impossible.
The 2011 world cup is now also being mentioned as something that may have to be looked into.
These attacks might have been aimed at Pakistan, but cricket seems to be limping away from them as well.
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We need peace at the moment. The IPL can wait.
You maynot be aware that P Chidambaram is the same guy who kept on shouting over the rooftops about the Indian economy being fine and that he had done a fine job as the Finance Minister for some 4 years. It was the same guy who advised people to buy stocks. It was the same person who has EGO written all over him and who will never shy away from free publicity. Being the Home Minister of the country, He is supposed to protect each and every citizen. So UncleJ I guess he is not a person whose comments should be taken seriously. The IPL may be postponed but are you sure that the Ashes will be safe in England? Only problem is Jacqui Smith is not Chidambaram
Namya, His comments will be taken seriously cause they were made now, anyone with a title could have said them, and they would have made the news. This sort of attack gives alot of free publicity to people like him, but if the reports are true, Modi and/or the BCCi are concerned, although i doubt that it was directly because of these comments. I don’t think we can be sure of any series can be safe, though i don’t think that has changed this week.
I am sure the IPL will go ahead — it is just too important to everyone concerned.
Rob, wordpress gave me a sarcasm alert on that one.
I meant it. Money talks. Danger worries people but money controls it all. Of course those that went last year and already have had a pot of gold may be in a different state of mind and may choose to stay away.
Ideally IPL is avoidable right now for genuine security reasons. However, there is a very obvious political angle to this also – with the general elections coming the present government would not want to risk another large scale attack right now. They have already been taken to task for their incompetence in dealing with terror. An incident during elections woudl surely dent chances of a re-election.
This along with the fact that most foreign players would avoid coming indicates that IPL this time is in trouble.