The 45-day extravaganza begins on April 10 and the 60 matches to be played among eight teams and spread over eight cities will end on May 24.
Government on Friday, held out hope for the staging of Indian Premier League next month with home minister P Chidambaram saying security will be provided for the high-profile cricket event to go off smoothly though some re-jigging of schedules seems unavoidable.
Chidambaram, who had earlier spoken about difficulties in providing para-military forces for the matches during polling days, said, "Nobody need worry about playing cricket in India or safety of anyone".
Some re-scheduling of IPL matches "seems unavoidable", the home minister told reporters here, adding he was trying his best to ensure that the second edition of the event is held smoothly.
The 45-day extravaganza begins on April 10 and the 60 matches to be played among eight teams and spread over eight cities will end on May 24.
"The IPL schedule and election schedule are exactly the same. It virtually overlaps with each other. I do not blame IPL. When the IPL had announced its schedule, they did not know the election schedule. When the EC announced its schedule, it did not, naturally, take note of IPL schedule", he said.
Chidambaram's assurance comes after intense speculation on the holding of the matches this year. IPL commissioner and chairman, Lalit Modi had said that postponement of the matches was as good as calling it off though he expressed his readiness to make minor adjustments and ensure that matches were not played on polling days.
"I want cricket to be played in India and let me say, what I said a couple of years ago, cricket when played in India is completely safe. Nobody need worry about playing cricket in India or safety of anyone," he said.
The home minister said he just wanted a change of the IPL schedule so that the matches could be held with full security and smoothly.
"But I have to take note of the fact that the two schedule are completely overlapping. Therefore, I suggested that the IPL should take a second look at the schedule. So they now have come up with a new schedule," Chidambaram said.
A decision on whether the IPL can go ahead with a revised schedule would be taken after the central government discusses the matter with the host states and the Election Commission.
"I did not say that IPL should be postponed. My only concern is if I have to provide Central Paramilitary Forces, I must know whether I have those Central force to provide security of the IPL. I am trying to help and I will help the IPL hold matches. But some rescheduling seems unavoidable," he said.
The IPL organisers have conveyed to the Home Ministry that they do not require any central forces for the security.
The Home Ministry has passed on the new schedule to the states.
"We have got inputs from DGPs, commissioners of nine cities. They are in fact discussing it in Delhi now so let them discuss and come back", Chidambaram said.
The second edition of the tournament has come under a cloud of uncertainty in the wake of the deadly terror attack on Sri Lankan team in Lahore and the general elections in India which coincide with the league that starts April 10.
On the terror attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore on Tuesday, Chidambaram said "we feel sorry. we condemn it. Even if it was on Pakistan players, we would have condemned it.
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