First came the attack on the Sri Lankan Cricketers in Lahore and then the repercussions. The effects of which were to be felt by India as well. Imran Khan, the World Cup winning cricket captain turned a politician said that it wasn’t just an attack on the Lankan cricketers but on Pakistan as well.

As many theories emerge about the attackers, their identities and motives, one thing is clear that there will be no cricket without commandos in the sub continent any more. And that very situation has also put the Indian Premier League in a limbo.
 
One can only be optimistic of the tournament happening in 2009 because the charismatic founder of the league, Lalit Modi has so far had his way out of every sticky situation. However the truth is that there are far more logistical hindrances this time than one can think of. The massively followed IPL last year was not guarded by the men in black because the security assessment did not demand. However this year, the staging centers have asked for the paramilitary forces.
 
They were swung into action when the England team graciously returned after the Mumbai attacks to play the test series in December 2008. Perhaps it is only their sight which can now assure foreigners to turn up for the league.
 
Commandos in cricket used to be popular sight in Pakistan. Now it seems that the sub continent has to live with it. And the fans will have to bear with the 5-tier stifling security.  
 
The Lahore terror strikes mean that no one’s just prepared to take any chance. Though IPL thought they could conduct the tournament with only state security and ignore the central forces, it seems unlikely now. The dates of the tournament coinciding with the central government polls have thrown things in a mess. The IPL has now sent a revised itinerary that lies with the bureaucrats at the home ministry. They are carefully considering the draft and discussing it threadbare but the 8 city police chiefs.
 
While some clearly have refused to take the responsibility on them, Punjab has shown a lot of guile. They have promised to post their men during the IPL and do it without any central help.
 
The Government too is in a prickly situation. While stopping the IPL would mean hurting public sentiments, they cannot risk it either. For a blast during that period would definitely mean the end of UPA’s regime. So in the next 24 hours while IPL’s fate will be decided, the UPA Government too will have its script written. 

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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