The cloud of uncertainty over the high-profile Indian Premier League (IPL) lifted today when T20 League Chairman Lalit Modi declared that it would be held in the country with few modifications in the schedule.
"The BCCI office bearers met with the IPL today and we are thankful and grateful to Home Minister P Chidambaram for his clarification that security would be provided to the IPL," Modi told reporters here.
"We are in touch with all state governments and would soon come out with a revised schedule. We want to assure our sponsors, teams and fans that the IPL is on and there's no question of shifting it to other countries," Modi said.
Doubts were raised over the second edition of the tournament in the wake of the deadly terror attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore and the general elections in India which coincide with the league that starts April 10.
Chidambaram had earlier told reporters in Hyderabad that some re-scheduling of IPL matches was "unavoidable" and he was trying his best to ensure that the second edition of the cash-rich League was held smoothly.
"The IPL schedule and election schedule virtually overlaps. When the IPL announced the schedule, the election dates were not declared. When the EC announced the dates, naturally they did not take note of it. The schedule was overlapping completely," Chidambaram said.