South African players may pull out of IPL if security seen insufficient

South African players will not be allowed to go to India if the security is insufficient. "We are contact with the Indian authorities, we do look after the protection of the players," said Robert Nicholls, director of Nicholls, Steyn and Associates.

"If we feel that the security standards are low , we will not allow the players to play there." Nicholls said the attacks on the Sri Lankan players "a wake-up call for everyone." South African captain Graeme Smith told that no decisions would be taken. "We will take on the advice of Cricket South Africa and the safety consultants.’’

"There is an important tour to India for us next year and the IPL is just around the corner. South African players such as J P Duminy, who was bought up for $1m by Mumbai Indians, Rapport quoted an unnamed player saying that they would rather stay at home.

Dada disagrees with Sachin with his comments on the best team

Little Master Sachin Tendulkar has no doubts that the current Indian team is best, but dada Sourav Ganguly does not agree. Ganguly said the cricket team is fantastic but not the best ever. They are a great side. But it's difficult to say that the current team is the best one-day side. Ganguly praised the team's consistent performance.

He said, the Indian cricket is being consistent. They have maintained the standard which is a good sign.

Postpone IPL, Security agencies tell government

The General Elections seem to have cast a shadow over the jiffy flavor of the Indian Premier League with party owners raising alarm about players guarantee after the Home Ministry said that providing sanctuary to teams and match venues will due to Lok Sabha polls. Now IPL lineup owners, too, are raising fear about players’ guarantee after Tuesday's condemn on Sri Lankan players in Lahore. Rajasthan Royals co-vendor Shilpa Shetty said that the IPL must guarantee for all players knotty in the Twenty20 tournament.

"The only thing that IPL slat can do at this moment is to beef up the safety. It's a truly sad day for sports... For such an unfortunate thing to occur. Nevertheless I am demanding to be positive and I empathise with the cricketers who have suffered, the Sri Lankan cricketers, and the arbiter who got hurt," said Shipla.

"Every cricketer and role is troubled about the attacks accepted out on a cricket side. It's important the people should not panic. All squad owners will have to make trusty that adequate refuge is given to the cricketers," said Zinta referring to the spell on Sri Lankan party in which six players and a referee was injured. Zinta also said that shifting dates of IPL matches might establish some obstacle.

Meanwhile, international cricketers, too, have begun voicing their item over the IPL. "I think there are definite questions to be asked. The IPL has given me efficient candor that I didn't even wish about, but I have a family now. Cricket's important, but it is not as important as my life. Lalit Modi and the IPL have given assurances that the guarantee will be beefed up for the episode.

"We have printed to the Indian Premier League for our members requesting ability for player representatives to be involved in the evaluation and construction of refuge for the Event. An increasing number of players have spoken an appeal for an independent demolish of comfort surrounding security arrangements for this Event," said May.

Sri Lankan Cricket Team Return Home from Pakistan

MS Dhoni, I am happy that we didn't tour Pakistan

"I am to be here," said Dhoni. Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Tuesday expressed shock at the terror attack on the Sri Lankan cricketers and said the Indian government had taken the right decision of cancelling a scheduled tour to Pakistan in January-February. I was right in the middle and was quite shocked to the news about the attack. I just heard the Sri Lankan cricketers are fine. It is sad that sportspersons are being attacked.

I am glad that we didn't tour Pakistan. We were supposed to tour New Zealand. Dhoni said "That's a thing of the past. On being asked what if India had toured Pakistan as per schedule?

Rajasthan Cricket Association election - Modi Loses

Lalit Modi, the IPL commissioner, has suffered an embarassing defeat in the election for the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) of which he was president since 2005. Modi lost 13-18 to a state government official, Sanjay Dixit, in Jaipur on Sunday. The defeat is a personal setback for Modi though it will not affect his position as vice-president of the BCCI since he is also on the board of the Punjab Cricket Association. "The RCA elections have nothing to do with Modi continuing as the vice-president of the BCCI and as chairman and commissioner of the IPL," Shashank Manohar, the BCCI president, said.

The BCCI had appointed Modi as its vice-president till 2011 and IPL chairman till 2013. However, the defeat means that Modi will not be eligible to vote during the Indian board's general body meetings. Modi, who was close to the previous administration in Rajasthan, was facing resistance at the local association from a group of dissidents ever since a new government took over following state elections late last year. "I paid the price of being close to Vasundhara Raje (former chief minister of Rajasthan)," Modi told reporters after the defeat. "The state government did whatever it could to defeat me."

Local police had also lodged a series of cases against Modi over the last month on various charges, including fraud and forgery.The dissidents, meanwhile, amended the RCA's constitution with the backing of the state administration and called for elections on February 22. The Supreme Court, however, upheld a plea by Modi who questioned the election process as per the amended constitution and sought the court's intervention to ensure a free and fair election. The court appointed an independent observer to conduct the elections on March 1.

In the build-up to the elections, Modi had said that some IPL games may be shifted out of Jaipur, the base of Rajasthan Royals, this season if there was any opposition from the local government. However, he ruled out that possibility after losing the elections. "There will be no effect on IPL matches; they will be held in Jaipur only," Modi said.