IPL, franchises bugging players: PCA

Professional Cricketers Association director of legal affairs Ian Smith said Modi, who had earlier claimed that “heavens won’t fall if international players refuse to come for the IPL”, has been “bugging players like crazy” to commit.

England’s Cricketers’ Association claims that IPL commissioner Lalit Modi and the franchises are “bugging players like crazy” to commit participation in the lucrative Twenty20 event but are refusing to acknowledge their security fears.

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Professional Cricketers Association (PCA) director of legal affairs Ian Smith said Modi, who had earlier claimed that “heavens won’t fall if international players refuse to come for the Indian Premier League (IPL)”, has been “bugging players like crazy” to commit.

Smith, however, said the security situation in India seems better than a few weeks ago but some concerns still remain. Smith said the firm handling IPL’s security was up to mark but the players’ bodies were looking for assurances from the government of India.

“They are excellent guys and it is a good plan. The question is whether the states and the government can implement it. Have they not signed off because they can’t or because they won’t? Nobody is prepared to say, ‘Yes we can do it’,” Smith said.