Collingwood admits to IPL doubts

England star Paul Collingwood admits he has security worries about taking part in the Indian Premier League but still expects to play in the tournament.

Security has become a major issue after gunmen attacked the Sri Lanka cricket team in Lahore, Pakistan, on Tuesday.

“I’d be lying if I didn’t say that something like this raises concerns in your mind,” said Collingwood.

“But I’m not about to make any decisions on it, the right thing to do is to wait and see how things go.”

Collingwood, who has signed a contract with the Delhi Daredevils, is among seven England-based cricketers set to feature in the second year of the big-money competition from 10 April.

“As things unfold we will know more about what is being put in place by the IPL, but having been back to India before Christmas the security we had felt pretty good and at this stage I’m continuing as normal,” he added.

“Of course, when something as tragic as this happens, thoughts do cross your mind and you do question things a bit.”

IPL chairman Lalit Modi has said there is no chance of the tournament being postponed despite a request from India’s home minister, Palaniappan Chidambaram, prompting fears that security resources will be stretched.

India’s financial capital Mumbai was the target of a series of calculated terrorist attacks in November 2008, when 170 people were killed, but England resumed a two-Test tour soon afterwards.

But Modi insisted: “We have taken into account government sensibilities, but I am sure even the home minister would not want the whole country to come to a standstill during the elections.

“We did see this (clash of dates) coming. That is precisely why we had increased the number of kits and crews for this year’s tournament.

“We will ensure that there will be no games 24 to 48 hours prior to the polling dates across all the nine match venues in the country.”

Hampshire’s Dimitri Mascherenas is contracted to play for the Rajasthan Royals in this year’s IPL and said he will be taking advice from a variety of people before he commits to going.

“I’ll be speaking with the owner of the Rajasthan Royals and captain Shane Warne and discussing the security arrangements but if they are happy that it’s going to be safe then I think I’ll be happy with that,” he said.

Mascherenas, who will fly out to join the England one-day squad in the West Indies on Thursday, continued: “At this stage it’s a pretty scary thought but in a couple of months time you never know what’s going to happen.

“If all security measures can be met, I’d love to go to India but if guarantees can’t be met I wont be risking my life to go and play cricket. Things can get promised and not delivered but that can happen everywhere.”

The all-rounder is not centrally contracted to the England and Wales Cricket Board, which means they would not be able to insist that he does or does not go to India but Mascherenas insisted he will take note of what decisions the ECB make for players like Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Flintoff and Collingwood.

“If the ECB find it is unsafe, Id be pretty silly not to follow that sort of a lead.

“I’m not saying I will definitely go, it’s one of those things where you just have to weigh up what’s more important and life is pretty important. If everyone starts pulling out then I will jump on that bandwagon for sure.”

Sean Morris, chief executive of the Professional Cricketers’ Association, said a period of consultation with both the Indian authorities and players would follow ahead of the Twenty20 tournament.

“It’s too early for us to start making decisions on are we going to go and play here, there or anywhere,” Morris told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“But it’s very, very worrying that cricketers, who have been perceived as untouchable, are being targeted. That does concern us a lot.”

Former England coach Duncan Fletcher urged England’s players to think carefully about playing in the IPL.

But leading Australian cricketers, including Brett Lee, Nathan Bracken, Dave Hussey, Shane Watson and Brad Hodge have vowed to play.

“You’re never safe anywhere, to be fair,” Watson said. “It’s part and parcel of the world environment at the moment, more than just a certain region.

“I love playing cricket and if the opportunity is there to go to India, I will be there with bells on.”

Credits: BBC