The Indian
Premier League (IPL) governing council on Tuesday decided not to field
Sri Lankan players in the IPL matches to be held in Chennai due to
security concerns in Tamil Nadu over the atrocities carried out against
ethnic Tamils in Sri Lanka during the war against Tamil Tigers that
ended in May 2009.
IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla said on Tuesday
that the local administration's advice cannot be ignored, but he said
the IPL matches will not be shifted out of Chennai and they will be
played as scheduled.
Mumbai Indians will miss the services of Lasith Malinga. File Pic/AFP
"All the matches scheduled to be held in Chennai will go on as
scheduled. As far as Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is concerned, we have
briefed them about the security measures taken by the BCCI (Board of
Control for Cricket in India)," Shukla was quoted as saying.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa wrote a letter to the Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh making it clear that IPL matches would be
permitted in the state only if there were no Sri Lankan players,
umpires, officials or support staff in these matches beginning April 3.
A few hours later, the IPL Governing Council met to discuss the issue
and decided that Sri Lankan players will not participate in IPL League
matches in Chennai.
The Governing Council will advise the
nine IPL franchises accordingly, putting an end to the intense
speculation regarding the fate of the Sri Lankan players.
Altogether 13 Sri Lankan players, two of whom are captains of their
respective teams, are taking part in the sixth edition of the league.
Chennai, the home for Chennai Super Kings, will stage 10 matches in
all, including two eliminators, and will continue to remain a venue.
"The IPL Governing Council met this afternoon to discuss the issue.
The security of all involved in the IPL, whether players, spectators or
those working in the stadiums, is of paramount importance to the BCCI.
The Governing Council decided that Sri Lankan players will not
participate in the Pepsi IPL 2013 League matches in Chennai and will
advise the nine franchises accordingly", Shukla said in statement.
Shukla said that the Governing Council took the decision after the
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister wrote to the Prime Minister stating that she
would not permit the Sri Lankan players in Chennai.
"This is
with reference to news reports last week that the government of Sri
Lanka has issued a travel advisory that its citizens should exercise
caution when travelling to Tamil Nadu", the statement said.
IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla. File Pic
"Today, the Honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has written to
the Prime Minister of India stating that she will not permit the
participation of Sri Lankan players or umpires in matches in Chennai
during Pepsi IPL 2013", the statement added.
Shukla said the
Governing Council had to take the local sentiments and the safety and
security of Sri Lankan players into account before taking a final
decision. "We had to take two things into account. We have to take the
local sentiments into account and at same time the safety and security
of the Sri Lankan players are paramount," he said.
"If the
local administration has given something we have to listen to that as
ultimately we need the help of the state authorities to hold the
tournament like security arrangement. We can't ignore the advice from
the local administration," he said.
In the letter to the
Prime Minister, Jayalalithaa said BCCI may be advised by the Centre to
prevail upon the IPL organisers not to allow Sri Lankan players,
officials, umpires and support staff to take part in the tournament in
the state.
"In view of the popular antipathy and anger in
Tamil Nadu against the actions of the Government of Sri Lanka, the
Government of Tamil Nadu is of the view that IPL matches involving Sri
Lankan players, umpires and other officials should not be played in
Tamil Nadu," she said.
"The Government of Tamil Nadu will
permit IPL matches to be held in Tamil Nadu only if the organizers
provide an undertaking that no Sri Lankan players, umpires, officials or
support staff would participate in these matches," she said.
Sri Lankan Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said that the
Lankan players will be told not to take part in Chennai matches if the
BCCI or the Indian government were not able to provide security to them.
"We have written to the BCCI whether they can provide security to our
players. We have also requested the foreign ministry to ask the Indian
government whether they would provide security to our players. Only in
case our players are provided security we will allow them to take part
in the matches in Chennai," he said.
For the league stages,
Mumbai Indians, Delhi Daredevils and Hyderabad Sunrisers will have to
bench key players like Lasith Malinga, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar
Sangakkara, respectively for their matches in Chennai.
Barring Kings XI Punjab, all the other franchises have at least one or more Sri Lankan players in their squad.
