Indian Premier League

Bangalore's match in Jaipur to go ahead as scheduled

Cricinfo staff

May 14, 2008

Lalit Modi, the IPL commissioner, has turned down a request from the Bangalore Royal Challengers to shift the venue of their next match on Saturday against Rajasthan Royals from Jaipur following a series of explosions in the city on Tuesday that killed at least 60 people.

"They [Bangalore] had approached me with a request to shift the match out, but we cannot do that. The match will go ahead as scheduled in Jaipur on Saturday," Modi told Cricinfo, adding that additional security will be provided at the team hotels and the Sawai Mansingh stadium, the match venue.

"All necessary precautions are being taken at all the grounds of the IPL," Sharad Pawar, BCCI president, said. "I spoke to the Union Home Minister and we've been assured of the safety. We are no cowards. The match in Jaipur will go on as planned."

Meanwhile, Cricinfo has learnt that Brijesh Patel, Bangalore's CEO, has instructed the team to return home tonight.

Martin Crowe, Bangalore's Chief Cricket Officer, had told Cricinfo on Tuesday night that they had requested that the match be shifted out of Jaipur, and offered to host it at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, their home ground. It's learnt that the foreigners in the squad are particularly worried about the security situation following the terrorist attack.

"We have conveyed our decision to the IPL council," Crowe had said. "The franchises are discussing the issue. A final decision will be made tomorrow. We are going to Delhi tomorrow and will probably head over to Bangalore after a night's stay in Delhi."

Bangalore have already hosted Rajasthan in the tournament - on April 26 - in a game that the visitors won by a comfortable margin.

At least five major blasts rocked Jaipur, the base of the Rajasthan Royals, with the death and injury toll on the rise. The Rajasthan team hasn't been affected: most of the players are currently holidaying in Goa and the others have gone back to their respective homes.

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