‘No security concerns’
Dismissing reports that foreign players were apprehensive of playing in the IPL due to security concerns, Lalit Modi said, “No contracted player has contacted me directly or indirectly.”
Dismissing reports that foreign players were apprehensive of playing in the IPL due to security concerns, Lalit Modi said, “No contracted player has contacted me directly or indirectly.”
In keeping with the times, IPL’s security budget has gone up 10 times this year. “Security is paramount. It’s important for players, officials and fans. Last year, the South African company, Nicholls, Steyn and Associates, were hired to look after players’ security. While some of the team owners had contracted Nicholls & Steyn, others had their own security.
“This time, based on recent incidents, security measures have been stepped up and the agency will work closely with the
state associations.
We have gone venue-by-venue and it would be dealt by a central security system. Right from the arrival of players and teams at airports (foreign players), at hotels (domestic players) and transportation, will be handled by the IPL. It’s a very cumbersome template. We did this exercise after the Mumbai terror attack for the Chennai Test.
“We had rigorous and contingency plans in place which were shared with the security forces, state government, ICC and the England and Wales Cricket Board without a hitch. We are taking it as a base template and are going to apply it to every city that will be hosting matches.
The movement of players is constant and we require a large amount of manpower to do that. That’s the reason the security budget has gone up by ten times. A similar exercise will be done for stadium security."