BCCI must reassure security-Aluthgamage

27 March 2013 11:57 am

Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage while asking for a further guarantee on the security of Sri Lankan players from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) today said the players would only be permitted to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) consequent to a written declaration from them.

The Minister said players who wished to participate in the IPL would have to submit a written declaration to the Sports Ministry stating they were agreeable to play under the prevailing conditions.
 
H also said the BCCI would have to give an assurance of the players’ security.

“The BCCI has to first give us a guarantee that they would provide security to our players. The Indian Board has informed us that they would provide the necessary security to the players at all venues except Chennai but we are awaiting a further guarantee” he said.

The decisions were taken consequent to a meeting held yesterday with the participation of the Sports Minister, Ministry Secretary, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) President, Secretary and the CEO.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Cricket has issued the following statement

Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to announce that discussions were held with the Minister of Sports this morning regarding the release of the Sri Lanka players for the IPL 2013.

Based on a note sent by the Minister of External Affairs regarding the safety of players and reports appearing in the electronic and print media, it was decided that the No Objection Certificates (NOC) issued to the players be restricted to exclude their appearance at any venue in the state of Tamilnadu and also to obtain the Players’ personal opinion on their willingness to participate in the event.

At the initial stages, SLC liaised with the BCCI and obtained Safety Guarantees for their participation and conveyed their assurances to each individual player.  If and when the players express their intention to play in the IPL 2013, they would be permitted to proceed with the restriction indicated on playing in the State of Tamilnadu.(HafeelFarisz)