IPL moves semi-finals after bombs go off in Bangalore
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Your support makes all the difference.The Indian Premier League has switched the venue for the competition's semi-finals to Mumbai in response to Saturday's explosions outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore, in which eight people were injured.
Two bombs exploded on a road around the stadium before a match between Kevin Pietersen's Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians and a third, larger, device was later defused. The game was delayed for an hour but went ahead amid reports that Pietersen and his team-mate Jacques Kallis were unhappy at having to play. However, Pietersen and the other English players taking part in the competition – Paul Collingwood, Michael Lumb, Ravi Bopara and Eoin Morgan – are expected to remain in India.
Yesterday, after discussions with security advisers and the Board of Control for Cricket in India, the IPL moved the semi-finals from Bangalore to the D Y Patil Stadium in Mumbai, which was already scheduled to host the final. "We want to ensure total safety for the players and the spectators alike," said Lalit Modi, the IPL commissioner. "The world is changing and very quickly. We need to be on the alert and make sure that we react quickly when incidents like this happen. We are reviewing security for rest of the tournament and are in discussions with the home ministry and the police."
The incident will cause concern among the ICC with India, alongside Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, due to host the World Cup next year, while Delhi is staging the Commonwealth Games in October. There have previously been reservations voiced for security reasons by sporting bodies over competing in the Games .
Another event threatened by outside forces is the World Twenty20, with teams facing disruption to their travel plans following the grounding of flights because of volcanic ash. England are scheduled to leave on Sunday to play two warm-up games ahead of the start of the competition on 30 April, while other teams are supposed to be travelling through London as well.
In the County Championship yesterday, Yorkshire made it two wins out of two with a six-wicket victory over Somerset at Headingley. Andrew Gale continued his impressive start as captain, following a first-innings hundred with an unbeaten 64. Lancashire won their first game of the campaign thanks to a shining debut from Simon Kerrigan. The 20-year-old, playing because of Gary Keedy's broken collarbone, took 5 for 43 with his slow left-armers as Warwickshire were dismissed for 197 in pursuit of 319.
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