IPL still facing dates dilemma

Cricket's Indian Premier League has failed to agree on this season's schedule after another meeting with home ministry officials today.

The ministry, which is in charge of internal security in the country, had asked the IPL to revise the dates of the tournament, which had been due to run from 10 April to 24 May, as it will clash with general elections.

That has created concerns about the ability of the paramilitary to provide adequate security for both events.

Last week the IPL had submitted a fresh schedule but the home ministry again rejected their proposal with several state security chiefs saying they could not provide security.

Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary, N Srinivasan, refused to reveal details of today's two-hour meeting or say when the dates of the tournament could be expected.

Srinivasan said: "The home ministry have expressed their concerns which they explained in detail. We have also expressed our own concerns and the importance of the tournament to all the various stakeholders."