Decision on IPL after receiving states feedback: Chidambaram

Union Home Minster P Chidambaram today said a decision on the fate of the second edition of the Indian Premier League will be taken soon after the Ministry received feedback from the concerned state governments on the revised schedule.

Desperate to get the cash-rich league on track, the IPL's top brass held a series of meetings since Monday and submitted a reworked schedule to the Home Ministry yesterday. The new schedule has now taken into account the reservations and security constraints of the states hosting the matches.

"The last I heard was yesterday morning they submitted a revised schedule. The revised schedule has been sent to all the state governments concerned. We've asked them to give their comments and views as early as possible," Chidambaram told reporters here.

"Once all the state governments concern give their comments and views, especially with regard to security then we will take a view," he added.

The schedule was revised for the third time after the Home Ministry had told the organisers that cosmetic changes in the fixture was not acceptable and they would have to finalise the dates in consultation with the state governments.

With less than a month to go for the IPL to get underway, the Home Ministry's rejection of the second proposed schedule submitted by the IPL organisers has put a question mark on the fate of the tournament beginning April 10.

However, the IPL is keen to hold the tournament between April 10 and May 24 as any postponement would mean that the event has to be shelved till this period next year in view of the crammed cricketing calendar.

A postponement would also entail heavy financial losses for the organisers as well as the eight franchisees many of whom have already gone ahead with their merchandising and ad campaigns.