Jaipur blasts not to affect IPL

By SHAMIK CHAKRABARTY

Kolkata, May 15: The serial blasts in Jaipur are unlikely to affect the Indian Premier League.

Reports suggested that Rajasthan Royals stars Shane Warne, Shane Watson, Graeme Smith and team manager Darren Berry — currently all holidaying in Goa — were seriously contemplating flying back home and were reluctant to return to Jaipur to play their next IPL match against the Royal Challengers on Saturday.

"There’s a real option of getting on the plane and getting out of here. We are not comfortable at all. This is an extremely uncomfortable situation," Berry was quoted as saying by Macquarie National News.

Cricket control board chief administrative officer, Prof. Ratnakar Shetty, however, rubbished the reports.

"Nobody has expressed concerns officially. And unless there is anything official, the board is not going to react on the basis of media reports," he told this newspaper on Thursday.

"As far as we are concerned, Saturday’s match is on schedule," he added.

IPL chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi added that the overseas pros are on their way to Jaipur.

"All Australian players and the team are going to play in Jaipur. We are looking forward to it. Yes, they were little perturbed, but now they are assured. They are on their way to the city," Modi said.

He added that the team hotel and the Sawai Mansingh Stadium would be completely cordoned off. "I am not at liberty to describe the security arrangements. Security arrangements have been beefed up and nobody would allowed to go near the players," he asserted.

The administration has made it clear that no bags, lighters, matches or bottles would be allowed into the stadium.

Modi also said that when the players "came to know about all the arrangements that have been made on the ground, they were quite comfortable and happy "