Season 3 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is less than a month away, but right now it's more about security than about cricket. Australian cricketers of the Deccan Chargers franchise on Tuesday asked the Maharashtra government to guarantee their security in the wake of Shiv Sena threats and an assurance was quick to come.
"Everyone in Maharashtra is safe, provided they have come here legally. I don't see the need to respond to these questions every day. If teams have concerns we will speak to them and provide whatever is required," Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan promised.
The Australian players from the Deccan Chargers are worried about Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray's statement on Monday that "Australian players cannot play matches in Maharashtra". Thackeray said this is in retaliation against attacks against Indians in Australia. (Read: Thackeray from yesterday)
There are 13 matches scheduled to be played in Maharashtra, and 20 Australian players across seven teams. In fact, only the Mumbai team does not have a single Australian player.
The Congress has taken the fight to the Shiv Sena camp. Senior party leader Narayan Rane said: "The Shiv Sena couldn't stop Rahul Gandhi from coming to Mumbai, so let's see how they'll stop the Australian players from coming here. They can't protect themselves, how will they stop others."
But this weekend's terror attack in Pune at the German Bakery has also led the government to reveal that the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) has a new strategy: To target places frequented by foreigners in cities like Nagpur and Mumbai.
The Chargers' Australian players have asked for a week to reconfirm whether they will travel to India for the IPL matches. The team, which was the Season 2 champion, has four Australians, including Captain Adam Gilchrist. The team has said that if its Australians decide not to play, the entire team will pull out of the IPL.
The Chargers are also upset about seven Season 3 matches - five in Hyderabad and two in Vizag - being moved out of Andhra Pradesh for security reasons. The team sent a legal notice to the IPL on Monday, asking for these matches to be returned to the state. Ironically, it is security fears that prompted the IPL to move out these matches. Some pro-Telangana protests recently saw cricket matches being disrupted in Hyderabad.
The opening match of the IPL Season 3 has in fact been shifted from Hyderabad to Mumbai.
List of Australian players in Deccan Chargers:
- Adam Gilchrist
- Andrew Symonds
- Ryan Harris
- Mitchell Marsh
Australian players in other IPL teams:
Chennai Super Kings:
- Matthew Hayden
- Michael Hussey
- George Bailey
Delhi Daredevils:
- David Warner
- Andrew McDonald
- Moises Henriques
Kings XI Punjab:
- Brett Lee
- Shaun Marsh
- James Hopes
Rajasthan Royals:
- Shane Warne
- Damien Martyn
- Shaun Tait
- Adam Voges
Royal Challengers Bangalore:
- Cameron White
- Steven Smith
Kolkata Knight Riders:
- Brad Hodge
There is no Aussie player in Mumbai Indians
