So is India safe to tour or is it just a media beat-up?

[Sanz]

That's why I said they have to evaluate pros and cons and go by how much confidence they have in Indian security arrangements. Once they come here, they are on the same boat as the Indians, who I guess are eager to play and watch the IPL.

No, they will be staying in the fivestar hotels which are always a bigger targets than individual homes.

I don't see how Indians don't have a choice as not every Indian lives in IPL centers. (and its not like the whole Ind is under threat). If someone from a non IPL venue goes to catch a game at the stadium, he is probably taking similar risk

Obviously it was meant for the Indians where the matches are played. Not to forget the fact that threats in India (not the IPL specific ones) are not limited to bigger towns and it is not just the AQ threat I am talking about.

 

[Zinzan]

Reckon the solutions simple tbh, if the respective overseas players associations are genuinely worried about security concerns, I can't see why they don't all chip together & hire an independent firm of expert security consultants to provide an assessment. The more I've read in the papers, the more I think it's mainly a storm in a tea-cup & I kind see why Modi would said something like "well if they don't come this year, why would they come in the future, because the rumours of threats will always be around" or words to that effect.

 

[jeevan]

^ Some players associations did exactly that with Reg Dickason, and he too (apparently) started off with believing there was a threat, looked at evidence and then came back with an opinion that there was not.

The one other thing the associations are (rightly) insisting upon is that the stated security plan be guaranteed at each venue. I don't want to be drawn into whether the players association is the right organization, but sometimes it is right for someone to state the obvious. The consultant might have reviewed the stated security plan as well.

 

[ret]

No, they will be staying in the fivestar hotels which are always a bigger targets than individual homes.

Indian players would be staying in those hotels too. It's not like they are obliged to play the IPL. They can skip too

One thing you need to understand that no one is obliged to play in the IPL, whether it's Indians or overseas players.

And it's been said so many times that it's up to the individuals to see how much they want to get influenced by those threats. IPL is making arrangements for security so they are doing what's needed to be done. It's up to players/fans to see how much confidence they have in the security arrangements. Everyone has a right to be concerned about their security

Obviously it was meant for the Indians where the matches are played. Not to forget the fact that threats in India (not the IPL specific ones) are not limited to bigger towns and it is not just the AQ threat I am talking about.

The entire discussion is based on AQ threats on IPL and Hockey WC, isn't it? So now what other threats are you talking abt? .... If you are talking about other threats then getting on to a plane is risky too, they could be be blown up in mid air by a bomb planted on it. And such terrorist acts are not even announced before hand, they just happen. Despite those type of risks, they get on to the planes because they have confidence in the security, which is the point being made

 

[Craig]

So that now that the IPL has been going on so far, and without any problems, I assume it was just a beat up wrt to the IPL then?

 

[Sir Alex]

So that now that the IPL has been going on so far, and without any problems, I assume it was just a beat up wrt to the IPL then?

The fact that two teams are playing their home games all around the country except at home suggests the answer lay somewhere in the middle. Of course security has been top notch.

 

[Matt79]

Have to lean a bit further away from "media beat up" sadly.

Pretty bad if KP and Kallis didn't want to play and were pressured to.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Pretty bad if KP and Kallis didn't want to play and were made to.

If that is the case then i doubt they will return next year no matter what the financial benefit would be.

 

[Cevno]

How can they me made to play without wanting too?

At most they could have only persuaded them giving them assurance. It was not as if without those two the game would not have gone ahead.

There has been no trouble reported in the Mumbai Indians camp btw, i guess because their foreign players are from different countries to the RCB.
Sachin came out for the toss immediately and set a example for the rest. Kumble came out after making Sachin wait for arround 15 minutes.

 

[Burgey]

How can they me made to play without wanting too?

At most they could have only persuaded them giving them assurance. It was not as if without those two the game would not have gone ahead.

There has been no trouble reported in the Mumbai Indians camp btw, i guess because their foreign players are from different countries to the RCB.
Sachin came out for the toss immediately and set a example for the rest. Kumble came out after making Sachin wait for arround 15 minutes.

Am really looking forward to a rational explanation for that.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Am really looking forward to a rational explanation for that.

I think a majority of the Mumbai team's internationals are from SL and WI, whereas Bangalore's are from South Africa and Australia.

 

[honestbharani]

I think a majority of the Mumbai team's internationals are from SL and WI, whereas Bangalore's are from South Africa and Australia.

yeah.. the sense of what is secure and what isn't does seem to change between players of different countries.. I can easily understand why a Sri Lankan player, for example, would find a situation not so much threatening after a minor blast compared to a South African or an Australian... Coz they are used to it more often, having grown up in a "less" secure environment, so to speak..

 

[vic_orthdox]

yeah.. the sense of what is secure and what isn't does seem to change between players of different countries.. I can easily understand why a Sri Lankan player, for example, would find a situation not so much threatening after a minor blast compared to a South African or an Australian... Coz they are used to it more often, having grown up in a "less" secure environment, so to speak..

I remember Asanka Gurusinghe (sp), who moved to Australia after retirement, talking about it. He said how, during the 1996 WC when Australia didn't play in Colombo, he thought it was petty. But once he moved to Australia, and saw the difference in what would make the news each day, he could understand why the team might have felt unsafe heading there.

 

[Burgey]

I think a majority of the Mumbai team's internationals are from SL and WI, whereas Bangalore's are from South Africa and Australia.

You reckon people who grew up in SA have a "softer" (for want of a better term) view of security than someone who grew up in the WI?

Would be a matter for an individual,wouldn't it?

I wouldn't play for a zillion bucks, but if I was in my early 20s, no kids etc, I would have gone and played for sure.

Edit: loved the Guru - legend.

 

[Matt79]

If that is the case then i doubt they will return next year no matter what the financial benefit would be.

I believe KP has already flagged he is reviewing his further participation in this IPL, and presumably the next ones. I should emphasis I said "if" - obviously we don't know exactly what happened yet, and may never.

How can they me made to play without wanting too?

At most they could have only persuaded them giving them assurance. It was not as if without those two the game would not have gone ahead.

There has been no trouble reported in the Mumbai Indians camp btw, i guess because their foreign players are from different countries to the RCB.

Sachin came out for the toss immediately and set a example for the rest. Kumble came out after making Sachin wait for arround 15 minutes.

You can have imperfect information but be told by your boss that its fine to play and that there'll be no further discussion of it unless you want to quit. Obviously you still have a choice, but with what I understand of how the contracts are phrased, they have you over a barrel. You aren't "made" to play, but you still feel pressured into making the choice you do. If, and again, I repeat I'm saying "if", then it would leave a bad taste in their mouth, and make them have a think about whether or not they stick around.

As to whether Sachin set a good example or not, who do you think was more sensible - the guys from Mumbai or the RCB? Because as I understand it, two bombs DID actually go off, and a third one was only discovered after that. At what stage does it stop being a matter of being "cowardly" and become "sensible"? For mine, it was surprising that after an at least partially effective terrorist attack on a venue, in which people were injured, it would be quite reasonable to at least delay the match for a bit longer than an hour or two.

 

[Burgey]

I believe KP has already flagged he is reviewing his further participation in this IPL, and presumably the next ones. I should emphasis I said "if" - obviously we don't know exactly what happened yet, and may never.



You can have imperfect information but be told by your boss that its fine to play and that there'll be no further discussion of it unless you want to quit. Obviously you still have a choice, but with what I understand of how the contracts are phrased, they have you over a barrel. You aren't "made" to play, but you still feel pressured into making the choice you do. If, and again, I repeat I'm saying "if", then it would leave a bad taste in their mouth, and make them have a think about whether or not they stick around.

As to whether Sachin set a good example or not, who do you think was more sensible - the guys from Mumbai or the RCB ? Because as I understand it, two bombs DID actually go off, and a third one was only discovered after that. At what stage does it stop being a matter of being "cowardly" and become "sensible"? For mine, it was surprising that after an at least partially effective terrorist attack on a venue, in which people were injured, it would be quite reasonable to at least delay the match for a bit longer than an hour or two.

Uh oh......

 

[Matt79]

Not knocking Sachin personally, if he wants to do that, power to him I guess. But I think its fair to ask whether its a "good example" or not for others to follow.

 

[Burgey]

Not knocking Sachin personally, if he wants to do that, power to him I guess. But I think its fair to ask whether its a "good example" or not for others to follow.

Too late, what has been posted etc etc.....

Personally believe Lara or Ponting would have set a better example. Discuss.

<*takes coat, runs..>

 

[Matt79]

**** man, you're not helping keep this sensible!

 

[Burgey]

**** man, you're not helping keep this sensible!

Sorry mate.

Was surprised the game went ahead so soon, personally. Fortunately nothing more went wrong.