In what could be a major setback for the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) and loss to State revenue, the Himachal Pradesh Government is likely to turn down the request of the State cricket association for security arrangements for the Indian Premier league cricket matches to be held at Dharamshala.
HPCA, which is facing series of inquiries, had on Wednesday requested the State Government for security arrangements for the IPl-7 cricket matches to be held at Dharamshala international cricket stadium.
Highly placed sources said that it is highly unlikely that the State Government could accept the request of the cricket association as around six companies of police personnel have been sent on election duty, outside the State.
“The forces, which are on election duty outside the state, could only return after May 16, after the counting of votes is over and they have been seeking security arrangements for May 10 and May 14, which does not seem viable,” said a senior level police officer. Around six to seven companies are needed to provide entire security cover during the cricket matches at Dharamshala.
With the Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) and the governing body of the IPl planning to hold a couple of matches of IPl-7’s second phase in the town, the HPCA has asked the state government to clarify its stand on whether it would cooperate.
In a release issued here on Wednesday, HPCA spokesperson Sanjay Sharma had said that the BCCI and IPl governing body had planned to hold matches in the Dharamshala cricket stadium between May 10 and 14. BCCI has also written to the state government whether it would provide the necessary security cover in view of the polls in Himachal Pradesh being held on May 7.
He added cricket association was fully prepared to host the matches and the “ball was now in the government’s court”. It is to be noted that during the earlier Dhumal-led BJP regime security cover was provided free of cost for four IPl seasons held in the town.
Now if the government is not able to provide ample security cover it is highly likely that matches could be shifted to Mohali in Chandigarh, which is also provided to the host Kings XI team of IPl like Dharamshala international cricket stadium. State is also incur huge revenue loss as huge amount of revenue is generated with the conduct of IPl matches due to huge influx of cricket loving people.