Andhra Pradesh police assures security for IPL matches

Even as the opening ceremony and first match of the IPLs third edition was shifted from Hyderabad to Mumbai, the Andhra Pradesh Police assured today that they would provide necessary security to enable the IPL to hold the inaugural of the event and the opening match here.

"We are providing security for remaining matches to be played in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam and on similar lines
proper security will be provided to players and the public for the opening match and the inaugural event also," Andhra Pradesh director general of police RR Girish Kumar told PTI.

"We love to have the inaugural ceremony and the first match in Hyderabad," the DGP said.

Owing to the prevailing circumstances over the Telangana issue in Andhra Pradesh, IPL chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi yesterday announced on shifting of the inaugural ceremony and the opening fixture scheduled to be played between Deccan Chargers and Kolkatta Knight Riders from Hyderabad to Mumbai. The IPL opener is scheduled for March 12.

Seven matches out of the 60-match IPL season III, were earlier scheduled to be played in Andhra Pradesh, but in the
back-drop of the IPLs decision, Hyderabad will now host four IPL matches and Visakhapatnam two matches.

It may be recalled here that about 100 pro-Telangana activists invaded the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium at Uppal here on Thursday and forced abandonment of a match that was played between Hyderabad XI and Andhra XI in the inaugural Deccan
Twenty-20 Cup cricket tournament.