The decision of the BCCI to shift even the two one-dayers between India and England from Hyderabad has now cast a shadow on the city hosting the four matches of the Indian Premier League –III scheduled here.

The official statement from the Hyderabad Cricket Association with regard to the women’s one-dayers is that since HCA was allotted the “prestigious five-day Duleep Trophy final” the two matches were shifted out of Hyderabad and it is not for any other reason.

No response

It may be recalled here that the Governing Council of IPL has already shifted the inaugural ceremony and the first match scheduled on March 12 from Rajiv Gandhi Stadium (Uppal) to Mumbai and till now there is no response from it to the repeated pleas of different groups from Andhra Pradesh to reconsider the decision.

Conflicting signals from the State government have even forced Deccan Chargers camp to turn pessimistic now. “We are not sure what is happening. Only the other day Chief Minister said that all the IPL matches will go ahead as per schedule in the city. Now, the Sports Minister in his letter to the Mr. Sharad Pawar, ICC president and Union Minister (copy of which is released to the media today), is seen requesting the IPL organisers to reconsider the decision to shift all the matches from the city,” says a senior official.

Effectively, what was originally perceived to convey a statement of support from the Sports Minister had only opened up a Pandora box with regard to the other four matches also now.

“I strongly believe that the State government might have got a clear message from the IPL regarding the other four matches also being shifted from Hyderabad,” says the official on condition of anonymity. “But, we are keeping our fingers crossed right now,” he added.

HCA also not clear

The confident way the Chargers officials were speaking till the other day clearly paved the way for cynicism after today’s letter from the Sports Minister. “It is really sad that neither the BCCI nor Mr. Lalit Modi has responded to the statements of support for the Hyderabad IPL matches from Joint Action Committee (Political) of Telanganana,” the official moaned. “We are not able to comprehend even the HCA stand on these decisions,” he remarked.

This even as the State Sports Minister reiterated today: “I as a Minister hailing from Telangana and on behalf of the State government assure the IPL all necessary support for peaceful conduct of the matches and showcase the organisational capabilities.”

So, the suspense continues whether the city will at all host any of the IPL matches in the third edition!