Boycott IPL if Hyderabad games shifted out: AP govt to Deccan

HYDERABAD: Furious at the Indian Premier League for shifting its opening match out of the city, the state government on Wednesday asked local team Deccan Chargers to boycott the Twenty20 event if the organisers don't stick to the original schedule. ( Watch Video )

Andhra Pradesh sports minister K Venkat Reddy said he and Chief Minister K Rosaiah on Wednesday sent letters to Union Agriculture Minister and former BCCI chief Sharad Pawar urging him to ensure that the opening match is held here as per the original schedule. The IPL starts on March 12 with Deccan Chargers taking on Kolkata Knight Riders in Mumbai.

"We have asked Deccan Chargers to stay away from the event as an expression of solidarity and send the message that the whole state is united in demanding relocation of the (inaugural) match," Reddy said.

"I spoke to Deccan Chargers and they said they will get back to us, may be by tomorrow," he said.

"They have insulted Andhra Pradesh by shifting out the match to Mumbai. In fact, Hyderabad is more suited to host the match than Mumbai," Reddy said.

The government has demanded that the Indian Premier League's opening match should be held in the city as originally scheduled.

"The decision of IPL has disappointed many cricket lovers in the state. Their decision might have been due to the ongoing political agitation in the state. In this connection, I would like to bring to your notice that the Telangana Joint Action Committee which is spearheading the Telangana agitation had extended full cooperation for the conduct of the matches in Hyderabad," Reddy wrote in his letter to Pawar, copies of which were also marked for UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Home Minister P Chidambaram and IPL commissioner Lalit Modi.

"The state police department had given permission and made necessary security arrangements for the smooth conduct of the match," he said.

Reddy also highlighted the world-class facilities at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket stadium in the city which was praised by former India captain Sunil Gavaskar and Australia skipper Ricky Ponting recently.

IPL had shifted its inaugural match scheduled for March 12 to Mumbai citing possible security concerns, a day after a Twenty20 match was disrupted by pro-Telangana agitators.

The Telangana supporters forced their way into the ground at the Rajiv Gandhi stadium here.

However, Telangana JAC had later assured its full cooperation to the IPL in organising the tournament here.