The Indian Premier League (IPL) and controversies have a hand-in-glove relationship. But the latest controversy so rounding IPL has nothing to do with cricket, or any form of it. It is political.
Due to the unrest in Tamil Nadu for Sri Lanka Tamils issue, IPL, which is kicking off on April 3, may see Sri Lankan players giving matches to be held in Chennai, a miss.
BCCI sources say that as the political parties in Tamil Nadu are protesting against Sri Lanka, they are also bound to protest against the Sri Lankan players playing in the state. Chennai will be hosting a total of 10 matches in this season, including two play-off matches.
A BCCI official said that franchises may make an arrangement, where in they will rest the Sri Lankan players when the matches are in Chennai, “if the political unrest continues.”
There are 13 Lankan players in IPL this year including Akila Dananjaya and Nuwan Kulasekara (Chennai Super Kings), Jeevan Mendis and Mahela Jayawardene (Delhi Daredevils), Sachithra Senanayake (Kolkata Knight Riders), Lasith Malinga (Mumbai Indians), Ajantha Mendis and Angelo Mathews (Pune Warriors India), Kusal Janith Perera (Rajashthan Royals), Muthaiah Muralitharan and Thilakaratne Dilshan (Royal Challengers, Bangalore), and Kumar Sangakkara and Thisara Perera (Sunrise Hyderabad).
IPL 6 will start on April 3 in Kolkata, and will go on till May 26.
IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla and BCCI President N Srinivasan were not available for comments till the filing of this report.
13 PLAYERS ON A STICKY WICKET
Due to the unrest in Tamil Nadu for Sri Lanka Tamils issue, IPL, which is kicking off on April 3, may see Sri Lankan players giving matches to be held in Chennai, a miss.
BCCI sources say that as the political parties in Tamil Nadu are protesting against Sri Lanka, they are also bound to protest against the Sri Lankan players playing in the state. Chennai will be hosting a total of 10 matches in this season, including two play-off matches.
A BCCI official said that franchises may make an arrangement, where in they will rest the Sri Lankan players when the matches are in Chennai, “if the political unrest continues.”
There are 13 Lankan players in IPL this year including Akila Dananjaya and Nuwan Kulasekara (Chennai Super Kings), Jeevan Mendis and Mahela Jayawardene (Delhi Daredevils), Sachithra Senanayake (Kolkata Knight Riders), Lasith Malinga (Mumbai Indians), Ajantha Mendis and Angelo Mathews (Pune Warriors India), Kusal Janith Perera (Rajashthan Royals), Muthaiah Muralitharan and Thilakaratne Dilshan (Royal Challengers, Bangalore), and Kumar Sangakkara and Thisara Perera (Sunrise Hyderabad).
IPL 6 will start on April 3 in Kolkata, and will go on till May 26.
IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla and BCCI President N Srinivasan were not available for comments till the filing of this report.
13 PLAYERS ON A STICKY WICKET
- Akila Dananjaya and Nuwan Kulasekara (Chennai Super Kings)
- Jeevan Mendis and Mahela Jayawardene
(Delhi Daredevils) - Sachithra Senanayake (Kolkata Knight Riders)
- Lasith Malinga (Mumbai Indians)
- Ajantha Mendis and Angelo Mathews
(Pune Warriors India) - Kushal Janith Perera (Rajasthan Royals)
- Muttiah Muralitharan and Tillakaratne Dilshan (Royal Challengers, Bangalore)
- Kumar Sangakkara and Thisara Perera (Sunrise Hyderabad)
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