London/Melbourne, February 21
England, Australia and South African cricket boards have washed their hands of the safety of players in India, warning them to participate in the Indian Premier League (IPL) at their own risk.

According to the Daily Telegraph, a report, commissioned by the players’ unions in England, Australia and South Africa and written by the England team’s security adviser Reg Dickason, states the players’ safety cannot be guaranteed and the threats issued by the Al-Qaida last week were credible.

The Australian, South African and English player associations share the security report, which they commissioned independently because the IPL refused to deal with the associations.

The Federation of International Cricketers (FICA) expects a mass pullout of players from the tournament this week unless security concerns are addressed or the IPL is moved out of India.

The report will be passed on to IPL’s international players, who will then make the decision to travel to India on individual basis.

Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) chief executive Paul Marsh said he had received the report from Dickason, but would not disclose its contents until he had advised the players.

England’s Twenty20 captain Paul Collingwood, who plays for Delhi Daredevils, said he was yet to make a decision on IPL participation. “I will make a decision once I have had a chance to review all the available information and talk to the relevant people,” he said. — IANS