Union Minister of State for planning and vice-president of Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI), Rajiv Shukla said the Himachal Government always wanted to hold IPl matches in the State but it was franchise decision to move out.
Defending Congress Government in the State, he said that there was no issue of providing security during the matches.The BJP had alleged that Congress Government in Himachal did not allow BCCI to conduct matches in the State.
Giving clarification, Shukla said, “I myself have talked to the Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh who had assured all support and said that security to the matches will be provided within ten minutes.”
“Since some of the IPl matches are being conducted at UAE, the franchise Kings XI Punjab decided to hold remaining matches at Mohali and not at Dharamshala,” added Shukla, who was in the State to review electioneering.
He said cricket stadium in the State was associated with a particular franchise and if some matches of IPl would not have been shifted to UAE, Himachal Pradesh could have been allotted couple of matches.
“Kings XI Punjab has two stadia, once each in Himachal Pradesh and at Mohali. They preferred to host their matches at Mohali,” said he.
He, however, guardedly appreciated the cricket infrastructure created in the state by now controversial Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA). Shukla said, “Infrastructure for hosting cricket matches is there in the State. legal or illegal issues are different thing, as far as I am concerned, infrastructure is available here and when BCCI feels, matches will be allotted to the State.”
Shukla parried questions when asked to comment over the controversy on HPCA. “I will not comment on this, since the matter is sub-judice,” he said. He said it was State leadership and government to deal with the matter of Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association
(HPCA).