Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Fletcher voices IPL security fear

kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff in Barbados
Pietersen and Flintoff will be two of the highest paid players in the IPL

Duncan Fletcher has urged England's Indian Premier League contingent to think carefully about playing in the forthcoming Twenty20 tournament.

The ex-England coach believes security could be a concern in India following attacks by masked gunmen on the Sri Lanka cricket team in Pakistan.

"If I were one of the guys who signed for IPL, I'd concerned," said Fletcher.

"The traffic is often so bad, the coach can only move slowly, which turns it into a sitting duck for terrorists."

Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen are among seven England-based cricketers set to feature in the second year of the big-money IPL, which will feature the world's best cricketers when it begins on 10 April.

The English players are set to speak with chief executive of the Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA) Sean Morris about the potential risks of playing in India.

The Federation of International Cricketers' Associations' (Fica), of which the PCA is a member, has already written to the IPL to seek assurances about security levels for its members.

"An increasing number of players have expressed a desire for an independent level of comfort surrounding security arrangements," said Fica chief executive Tim May.

I would be very nervous because that kind of attack is easier to carry out in India - and these guys can attack where they like

Duncan Fletcher

IPL chairman Lalit Modi reassured players their security would not be compromised.

"We will leave no stone unturned to provide our cricketers, fans and stakeholders alike the best security arrangements," he said.

However, the country's home minister P Chidambaram has already asked for the tournament to be postponed because it coincides with general elections, with fears security forces could be stretched to accommodate the increase in presence for the IPL.

India's financial capital Mumbai was the target of series of calculated terrorist attacks in November 2008, when 170 people were killed.

Although England resumed a two-Test tour following the attacks, the risk of another incident on the sub-continent is unsettling New Zealand all-rounder Jacob Oram.

"I think before (Mumbai) I would have had no worries going to India but now I think there are definite questions to be asked," said Oram, who will play for the Chennai Super Kings.

Fletcher led England to two tours to Pakistan, including their last tour in 2005, when security was markedly stepped up following bomb blasts in the country.

"Less than four years ago I was part of the England tour party to Pakistan that came in for criticism from sections of the media for going overboard on security," he told the Guardian.

"But if yesterday's events in Lahore showed us anything, it's that you can never be too careful.

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"There were times on that tour of Pakistan when the security was at a presidential level - with the exception of Karachi, they cleared roads for us on the way to stadiums and lined them with armed guards.

"India is different. There's nothing stopping a tuk-tuk pulling up alongside (a team bus) and detonating a bomb.

"I would be very nervous because that kind of attack is easier to carry out in India - and these guys can attack where they like."

England captain Andrew Strauss reflected on the sombre mood affecting the England camp.

"it is one of those things when you never feel vulnerable until something like this happens - then you are always feeling vulnerable," he said.

"It's a terrible day for the people involved, for the victims and their families and it's a terrible day for the game of cricket."

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