Most states say yes as IPL awaits final nod

A day after submitting a revised schedule, the IPL continues to nervously wait for the green signal from the Ministry of Home Affairs.CNN-IBN, however, has learnt that most states have given their nod to hosting the IPL after taking a look at the new schedule.Kolkata, Mohali, Bangalore and Chennai have sent their positive feedback, while Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad are yet to give OK. But they are likely to give a go-ahead.Dharamshala has already given its nod for this year's edition.IPL commissioner Lalit Modi was cautious when asked if he now expected the tournament to go through, saying that organisers were awaiting the government's nod and insisted that the situation was "fluid"."We are working very hard with all the states and the Home Ministry," Modi said. "As and when it (the schedule) is ready , it will be out."Delhi and Jaipur have been taken off the IPL's revamped schedule given to the Home Ministry because of security concerns in these two centres."IPL schedule coincides with elections," Delhi Police Commissioner YS Dadwal said. "We have stepped up security. Security alertness has to be 100 per cent. Considering our election committments, it's a risk I wouldn't like to take."Modi, however, remained hopeful, saying the ball is in state governments and the Home Ministry's court.

"There are security issues in these two states and that's the reason Delhi and Jaipur have been taken out of the IPL schedule," Modi said. "But whether they agree to host IPL matches is between the Home Ministry and the state governments."The Ministry of Home Affairs earlier on Wednesday had said that it was waiting for feedback from each of the states slated to host IPL games this season."The last I heard was yesterday morning they submitted a revised schedule," Home Minister P Chidambaram said. "The revised schedule has been sent to all the state governments concerned. We've asked them to give their comments and views as early as possible.""Once all the state governments concerned give their comments and views, especially with regard to security then we will take a view," he added.Although word is out that Delhi and Jaipur have been struck off as venues for this year's edition, Modi said that the IPL would be discussing the matter with the Home Ministry.Desperate to get the cash-rich league on track, the IPL's top brass held a series of meetings since Monday and submitted a reworked schedule to the Home Ministry on Tuesday.The schedule was revised for the third time after the Home Ministry had told the organisers that cosmetic changes in the fixture was not acceptable and they would have to finalise the dates in consultation with the state governments.