IPL will spend big on security

Bullet-proof buses, armoured SUV's and an international security firm to manage it all, the Indian Premier League will be spending big on protecting its players if it gets the Home Ministry's nod to conduct the Twenty20 event next month.

Bullet-proof buses, armoured SUV's and an international security firm to manage it all, the Indian Premier League will be spending big on protecting its players if it gets the Home Ministry's nod to conduct the Twenty20 event next month.

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A 10-fold hike in its security budget has already been announced by the League's Commissioner Lalit Modi and a major chunk of this money is expected to be spent on buying 16 bulletproof buses and 64 armoured SUV's.

A South Africa-based security firm Nicholls Steyn will manage the entire set-up.

Add to it, the money to be spent on hiring private security to make up for the lack of support from the Central Government, which has refused para-military forces for the event as Lok Sabha elections remain the first priority for it.

Although the organisers refuse to divulge the numbers, getting the special buses and SUV's alone is expected to cost the IPL $3.1 million.

During its inaugural edition, the League left the security of players, officials and fans to individual eight franchises, who coordinated with respective state governments.

But the Lahore terror attack on the Sri Lankan cricketers has prompted the organisers to put in place a centrally-managed system wherein the IPL has taken central control of the whole set-up.