IPL security issue: Modi rocks

IPL commissioner Lalit Modi has said that the T20 tournament, scheduled to start from March 12, would not be moved out of India.

Following various security concerns, there were reports that most of the overseas players were wary of travelling to India to play in the IPL.

However, Lalit Modi said the media was overplaying the security fears and insisted that the tournament would be staged in India.

Speaking to BBC Sports, Modi said: "We are going to have the tournament in India. I can't see any reason why we should move it at this point in time."

"The media is reacting to every fringe group saying security is a problem," Modi added.

Players' associations from Australia, England, New Zealand and South Africa had recently commissioned a report from Reg Dickason, a security expert, following a threat from a terror brigade, which has links with Al-Qaeda.

The Australian players had refused to commit to the IPL until a list of safety demands addressing "serious" security concerns were met.

Lalit Modi insisted that the security measures were in place for the tournament but added "Nobody in the world can safeguard the safety of the players in any tournament."

"All we have to do is ensure we are putting on the best security. Safety is paramount to us and we are working with the national and state governments to ensure we have good security in place."

"It is being discussed and upgraded on a daily basis with all the key stakeholders and we will continue to monitor that. At the end of the day we have to ensure the safety plans we put in place and the way we conduct them are absolutely top notch," Modi mentioned.

The IPL commissioner warned that the tournament would not be affected much by the withdrawal of "one or two overseas players."

"The heavens aren't going to fall if that happens," he said. "This is an Indian tournament, we have the key Indian players and only a few international players."

"We have no worries at all. You have to understand that the market for us is India," he added.

February 24, 2010 12:12 IST

Australian cricketers, who stand to lose millions of dollars if they don't participate in the Indian Premier League [ Images ], clashed with skipper Ricky Ponting [ Images ] during the meeting held at a Sydney [ Images ] hotel to brief them about security during the Twenty20 [ Images ] tournament.

Conflict over whether to attend next month's IPL tournament saw Australian players attacking each other during a security briefing.

The Australian reports that there is a split among the freelance former Test cricketers who want to attend and Cricket Australia-contracted players who want everybody to work as one on the issue.

It is understood that players like Shane Warne [ Images ], Matthew Hayden [ Images ] and Adam Gilchrist [ Images ] clashed with Ponting during the meeting.

The players have been advised that the current arrangements are not satisfactory, following legitimate threats from an organisation called the 313 Brigade.

The situation is almost certain to result in a showdown between the players' associations and the IPL, but insiders are suggesting it will be individual players who blink first and solidarity will be lost.

Anyone who boycotts will almost certainly be barred from future tournaments and players such as Lee, Warne, Gilchrist, Hayden, Dirk Nannes [ Images ] and Brad Hodge [ Images ] stand to lose millions of dollars. (Money talks honey 😆 😆)

Younger players with Cricket Australia [ Images ] contracts might not feel the same compulsion.

Australian Cricketers Association chief executive Paul Marsh was asked if the players would stick together once a decision was made.

"That's something we are still working through, it's the way we have operated in the past and I guess we have a couple of weeks to work through that," he said.

The Australian players were presented the report prepared by security consultant Reg Dickason.