Sport Industry Group

Bombings prompt IPL semis move- 19 Apr 2010 00:00:00

The Indian Premier League has been forced to move the venues for the tournament semi-finals amid security fears in the wake of the bomb explosions at an IPL game in Bangalore at the weekend.

Two devices exploded outside Bangalore's Chinnaswamy Stadium before Saturday's IPL game between Bangalore Royal Challengers and Mumbai Indians. The match went ahead but a third device was defused the following day.

The incidents have forced the IPL organisers to move the semi-finals from Bangalore to Mumbai.

Commented IPL chief executive Lalit Modi: ‘The environment in Bangalore stops us from continuing with our original plans.

‘The incidents were assessed by local police and the IPL's security agency as being of a minor nature but they have forced our hand.

‘This decision is naturally disappointing for the people of Bangalore but has been taken with the tournament's best interests, and the interests of its many varied stakeholders, in mind.

‘The IPL wishes those affected by yesterday's incidents a speedy recovery from injuries suffered as a result of the cowardly actions.

‘Despite this setback, we're confident the semi-finals and finals of IPL will be successfully contested and provide a fitting finale to a remarkable tournament.’

All three devices were hidden in the stadium's perimeter wall and the two explosions are believed to have injured 15 people.

Initial investigations suggested the explosives used in the devices were locally made and of low intensity, according to senior local police official MR Poojar.

The International Cricket Council said it was too early to comment on the attack or its ramifications on the 2011 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Up to 80 foreign players from across the world are contracted to the eight IPL teams.

The second edition of the tournament was moved to South Africa in 2009 amid fears the security forces would be too stretched by a clash of dates between the federal elections and the lucrative Twenty20 event.

In late 2008, the first edition of the Twenty20 Champions League - featuring the leading provincial teams from five countries - was cancelled in the wake of terror attacks in Mumbai.

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