Sydney, Mar.5 (ANI): Several of the world's best cricketers are understood to be considering withdrawing from the second year of the Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament following Tuesday's lethal terrorist strike against Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore.
Though players from almost every cricketing nation have signed lucrative deals, the failure to front and play, according to a player contract seen by the Sydney Morning Herald, would leave cricketers open to being sued for breaching their contract.
As per the contract, players can only stay away in the event of the death of a close family member or choose not to participate in games outside of India where their safety may be at risk as a result of any "war, epidemic or political unrest".
However, the get-out clause does not extend to matches played within India.
Australian captain Ricky Ponting said the fact the Sri Lankan team had been explicitly targeted had been the main talking point all day among the touring side in South Africa.
Ponting has said the participation of Australians in the tournament could not be guaranteed.
"I sat with Pup [Michael Clarke] last night, and he was saying how happy he was not to be in the IPL. But some of the other guys who potentially could be going there will have all those things now they have to think about, more so than they did before," Ponting said.
Former Test fast bowler Glenn McGrath admitted playing in the IPL was weighing on his mind.
"It does hit home a lot more, considering being a cricketer," McGrath said.
"With the IPL coming up there's concerns there too, being quite close to Pakistan," the paper quoted him, as saying further.
New Zealand all-rounder Jacob Oram said no amount of money would persuade him to put his life in danger.
IPL agent Neil Maxwell believes security for the tournament, which begins on April 20 and coincides with the Indian parliamentary elections, will need to be significantly upgraded, and suggested franchises would be compelled to use a high-quality international security firm.
Maxwell was not certain what action might be taken against contracted players who refused to go India.
"They would probably lose their revenue but that would probably be the extent of it," he said.
IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi has promised watertight security arrangements for the tournament.
The Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA) has been urging the IPL to work co-operatively on security issues - a call it made again yesterday with more urgency.
Chief executive Tim May said an increasing number of players were seeking independent assurances about security in India for the IPL.
He also called for the creation of a Security Summit involving industry and area experts, other sports, player representatives and other appropriately skilled attendees to brainstorm ways of mitigating the rising risk of safety within a number of countries.
FICA's call was strongly supported by Sri Lankan batsman Kumar Sangakkara.
Australian Cricketers Association chief executive Paul Marsh promised a fresh security assessment of Indian would be completed for Australian players within the next month - whether the IPL co-operates or not.
Australian bowler Nathan Bracken, who is signed to Bangalore, will play and believes franchise owners will now move to provide extra security.
NSW coach Matthew Mott, a close friend of the Sri Lankan coach Trevor Bayliss, said he would reconsider his participation in the IPL where he coached last year.
Former England coach Duncan Fletcher said he would be concerned if he were one of the players signed to the IPL.
Current England captain Andrew Strauss gave an insight into his player's thoughts.
"You never feel vulnerable until something like this, then you're always feeling vulnerable," he said. (ANI)
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