Cricket vs Terrorism... Shifting IPL ??

Terrorist activities or threats are not new to the game of cricket, but for the first time, the blow has been delivered where it hurts the most. When players have to seriously start worrying about visting an area or games have to be postponed or called  off because of terrorism, you know that its all gone horribly wrong. 

After the recent attack on Sri Lankan players, it is quite clear now that Pakistan as a cricketing venue is all but dead for the next couple of years. Pakistan was never a favourite with anyone but this incident will silence even the eternal optimist. And its not only Pakistan  that has been affected by the attack, players will be thinking thrice (they were already thinking twice) before coming to any of the countries in the subcontinent. 

This of course, does not bode well for the upcoming second edition of the IPL which stars all the big names of the game. The worries though do not end there for IPL. With the clashing of the IPL and the Assembly Elections in India ( scheduled from April 16 to May 13), the Security Agencies have already requested the Govt.  to postpone the IPL as there are not enough personnel to cater to both at the same time. 

The situation has worsened in the pat few days with some of the top names like Mcgrath and Peiterson brooding over whether to come or not. And then there is the fact of the humungous losses that the franchises would have to take and with the economic crisis, I don't think many of them will be able to take it. 

The safety of the players should always be the paramount importance but if we give in to the threats and keep on shelving off the  tournaments,  aren't  we doing exactly what the terrorists wanted ? Its already happened once, with the shifting of the Inaugral Champions League (which was to be held in Dec - 08 but will now be held in 09) in wake of the Mumbai Attacks. 

 The moral dilemma will remain and it is upto us to find a way to strengthen the spirit of the game in such dire times and not give in.

With the recent shifting of the Indian Premier League to South Africa, the IPL board has come under a lot of criticism for bowing down to exactly what the terrorists wanted. It of course is strange that a tournament called the "Indian" premier league is going to be held outide of India and for the Indian fans ofcourse, it is much more than just being strange.

For fans who have been waiting since the end of the huge hit first edition of the IPL, this comes as a big blow and experts are even doubting the decision. AS one of them said, this could definitely create problems for India's chances of holding the 2011 World Cup too.