Indian Premier League Will Go Ahead Despite Security Fears, Say Organisers

Indian cricket authorities are scrambling to enhance security and rearrange matches in the world's richest cricket league in the aftermath of the Mumbai and Lahore terrorist attacks, amid speculation that the team buses might have to be abandoned for some games.

Officials held an emergency meeting in Mumbai today to discuss security for the upcoming Indian Premier League after the Sri Lankan squad was ambushed on the way to a test match in Lahore on Tuesday in an attack that left six dead and 14 injured.

Police officials have already warned that security cannot be guaranteed in six of the eight cities originally selected to host the billion-pound tournament in April and May as matches clash with parliamentary elections.

The IPL agreed to reschedule matches and shortlisted seven possible new venues. The home minister, Palaniappan Chidambaram, quickly moved to guarantee security as a result. "Nobody need worry about playing cricket in India," said Chidambaram. "Cricket in India is completely safe."

"The IPL is on," said its chairman Lalit Modi. "No question of moving IPL to another country. We're fully prepared for security and will give a detailed briefing on security next week."

Security for the 10 April to 24 May tournament will be centrally monitored this year by the South African stadium security experts Nicholas Steyn and Associates, which are consultants for the International Cricket Council. Though Modi declined to discuss details with the media, the enhanced security measures will reportedly include CCTV cameras to cover every corner of match venues.

But provincial police forces will have the primary responsibility for providing security for both players and match officials at hotels, on city roads and at the stadia.

"Private security in India is worthless, so IPL cannot rely on private agencies for counter terrorism protection," said New Delhi-based security expert Ajay Sahni.

But one thing is certain – after Lahore, cricket's mise-en-scène is set to change. The distinctive team bus, for instance, may not always be used to transport players on crowded city roads.

"India does not have bulletproof buses," said Sahni. "I cannot predict what'll exactly happen, but it's not inconceivable that sometimes cricketers may be asked to travel in small groups in bomb-proof passenger cars."