Security apprehension about the Indian Premier League is proving infectious with South Africa captain Graeme Smith saying that his compatriots have developed a cold feet about travelling to India.
"Players remain concerned about the security issues for IPL," said Smith, who missed the ongoing ODI series against India and had to return home after the second Test in Kolkata because of a finger injury.
"This is a big event with lots of different players, stadia, hotels and travel arrangements. The help and assistance we get for this event from our players association will be very important to us. Everyone is monitoring the situation very closely at the moment," Smith was quoted as saying by Supersport.
Smith said the South African team was apprehensive on the eve of the first ODI in Jaipur because of a reported terror threat.
"The guys were nervous before the game but we need to trust the process we have always used with CSA and the South African Cricketers' Association (SACA)," Smith said.
"We would prefer to play in a more peaceful environment but that's the nature of the world we live in at the moment," he added.
South African Cricketers' Association CEO Tony Irish said security was assessed in Jaipur and the SACA was aware of its IPL duties as well.
"The Jaipur threat was investigated by CSA's security consultants, Nicholls Steyn and Associates. We will rely on their advice as to its legitimacy, what level of risk it presents to the team and what security measures are necessary," Irish said.
"The IPL is an Indian domestic tournament and the players go there as individuals playing for eight different franchise teams," he said.
"The boards of the different countries can't really be expected to review the security plans so it falls to the players associations in each country to do this for players.
"We take that responsibility very seriously. I can't think of anything more important than player safety and we won't compromise in any way on that," the SACA official said.
