By IANS,
Mumbai : A day after two low-intensity bomb blasts took place near the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore minutes before the match, the Indian Premier League (IPL) governing council Sunday decided to shift two semi-final matches from the city to Navi Mumbai.
After Saturday’s blasts, two more explosives were found Sunday, causing serious concern among the organisers and the police.
IPL chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi said the governing council was not ready to take any chances and they wanted to ensure the safety of players and spectators.
Thee matches will take place Wednesday and Thursday at the D.Y. Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai.
Modi said IPL was reluctant to relocate the semifinals at such short notice. “But yesterday’s incidents have made it clear that the current environment in Bangalore prevents us from continuing with our original plans. The incidents were assessed by local police and the IPL’s security agency as being of a minor nature but they have forced our hand.”
“This decision is naturally disappointing for the people of Bangalore but has been taken with the tournament’s best interests, and the interests of its many varied stakeholders, in mind,” Modi said in a statement.
“The IPL wishes those affected by yesterday’s incidents a speedy recovery from injuries suffered as a result of the cowardly actions. Despite this setback, we’re confident the semifinals and finals of DLF IPL 2010 will be successfully contested and provide a fitting finale to a remarkable tournament.”