New Delhi: When Indian Premier League (IPL) chief Lalit Modi put all speculations to rest on Friday after saying that the Twenty20 league is on and the governing body is working on its revised schedule, there was a collective sigh from the IPL team owners.
Bollywood actor and Rajasthan Royals' co-owner Shilpa Shetty was one of them.
"We have been on tenterhooks, wanting to know the fate of IPL. At last, I can breathe a sigh of relief. (The inaugural match) happening not in Jaipur for us. the inaugural match was meant to happen here. It would have been great but it has been shifted to Mumbai," Shetty told CNN-IBN.
Earlier in the day, IPL chairman Modi had said at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai that he and his organisation members wanted to assure all IPL fans and sponsors that the IPL is on.
He had also put to rest any speculations about the IPL moving to any other country, categorically saying that it would not be the case.
A relieved Shetty said, ""I was a little worried obviously because there is a lot of money riding on it. It (the cancellation of the IPL series) would have been really disillusioning for the cricket fans who were really waiting for this season."
Modi, who is also the vice-president of the Indian cricket board, said the IPL is working on a revised fixture and it will be decided soon. He also said that the IPL will also come up with a security plan next week.
Shetty, like her other partner in the ownership of the team, meanwhile has her agenda full. "Manoj Badale (co-owner Rajasthan Royals) is flying in from London today. We are meeting because there are a whole of things that have changed and we need to come to a consensus as to how we are going to handle it."
The Indian government has assured of its complete support in giving security cover to the various teams and management of the IPL.
There were widespread fears that after the ghastly attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in Pakistan on Tuesday, many international players may withdraw from participation in the IPL to be held in India.
"I am really not aware of anyone from our team refusing to play (in India). As far as india is concerned, it is considered to be safe," Shilpa Shetty said.
The general elections are scheduled to be held April 16-May 13. The other important date on the country's political calendar is May 16. The IPL is scheduled to be held from April 10 to May 24.
The IPL organisers have assured that there won't be a match in a city also on election day. The IPL organisers said they were working on it and that they had 14 cities available to shortlist eight from them.
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