AP govt assures of fool-proof security for IPL

In a fresh effort to get the IPL-III matches back in Hyderabad, the Andhra Pradesh government on Thursday asked the BCCI-IPL to visit the city to see for itself the fool-proof arrangements made by it.

"I would like to request you and your officials to make a visit to Hyderabad to assess yourself our preparation for IPL-3 and also to become conversant with the high degree of security and assurance of our government to conduct an incident-free government," Sports Minister K Venkat Reddy said in a letter to IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi.

Copies of the letter were marked to Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, Union Home Secretary, Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and BCCI president Shashank Manohar.

The minister pointed out that an international Under-17 cricket tournament is currently underway in the city and that an international air show is going to begin in the first week of March.

The minister also quoted Union Home Secretary G K Pillai as saying, "It was not a correct decision to cancel the IPL matches at Hyderabad. There was no terrorist threat there. The Telangana protest was the only issue."

Pillai has assured the Centre's help in providing fool-proof security to the matches, if they are held in Hyderabad, Venkat Reddy said.

The IPL-III matches have been cancelled citing the ongoing pro-Telangana agitation in Hyderabad. Pro-Telangana supporters forced their way into the ground at the Rajiv Gandhi International cricket stadium when a T20 match was in progress.

Venkat Reddy and Chief Minister K Rosaiah urged the BCCI-IPL to organise matches in Hyderabad as scheduled earlier.

Deccan Chargers, the Hyderabad franchise of IPL, sent a legal notice to IPL for deciding against playing in Hyderabad, its home ground.

The IPL, however, settled the issue with Deccan Chargers by deciding to play matches at Cuttack which falls under the catchment area of the Deccan.