IPL teams want Chennai removed as venue

Mumbai/Chennai, Mar 23 : Pointing out the security concerns of Sri Lankan cricketers, several Indian Premier League (IPL) franchisees have reportedly urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to drop Chennai city in Tami Nadu as a venue for hosting matches of the upcoming cash-rich league.

"IPL franchisees have told the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to drop Chennai as a venue for matches, if the current political situation over Sri Lankan Tamils remains," CNN-IBN reported quoting sources.

"The BCCI is worried by the development and is yet to communicate its decision to franchisees," sources told the news channel.

The IPL 2013 will commence with an opening ceremony on the evening of Apr 2 at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. The sixth edition of the cash-rich league will be played across the country from Apr 3 to May 26.

The issue of Sri Lankan Tamils gained momentum in Indian political paradigm in recent times with the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government's southern ally Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) ulling out of the government in New Delhi this week over its "soft stand" on the atrocities on Sri Lanka's ethnic Tamils vis-a-vis the US-sponsored resolution at the UNHRC session at Geneva, dealing a body blow to the main constituent Congress party led coalition.

The DMK wanted India to go for a strongly worded resolution against Sri Lanka for its atrocities and killings of ethnic Tamils in Sri Lanka that followed after the civil war in that country ended with the defeat of the LTTE.

India voted in favour of the US-sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka over alleged human rights violations that was passed at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva on Thursday.

India, however, did not move amendments to the resolution as demanded by the DMK.

According to reports, anti-Sri Lanka feelings are on the rise in Tamil Nadu.