IPL submits third schedule to Home Ministry

The Indian Premier League organisers today submitted a revised schedule to the Home Ministry in a bid to salvage the high-profile Twenty20 cricket event which has run into trouble due to security concerns.

A day after meeting between Home Ministry and IPL officials failed to break the deadlock on the schedule which coincides with the general elections, the organisers have re-worked the dates for the third time.

"We have received a new schedule from the IPL organisers today and have sent to states for their view," a Home Ministry spokesman said.

Desperate to get the cash-rich event on track, the IPL's top brass held a series of meetings since yesterday to fine-tune the schedule which has now taken into account the reservations and security constraints of the states hosting the matches.

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 cash-rich Twenty20 event 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.

A three-member BCCI team, led by Secretary N Srinivasan, met Special Secretary (Internal Security) Raman Srivastava in the Home Ministry where they were told not to indulge in cosmetic changes.

"The Home Ministry have expressed their concerns, they have explained it to us in details. We've also explained our difficulties and concerns and the importance of all the stakeholders," Srinivasan had told reporters.

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.