By Alex Gonzalez

The Indian Premier League is still in danger of not getting a chance to have a second season after home ministry officials rejected the latest revision of the proposed schedule made by IPL officials. 

As reported here on Friday, the main issue holding up the IPL season is based on general elections which are spread over five days between April 16 and May 13, running concurrently with the IPL's schedule which runs from April 10 to May 24.  There is an unwillingness to redirect the security for a billion people in India to the security needed for the tournament.

"There has been no decision," Indian cricket board secretary N. Srinivasan told reporters after a 90-minute meeting of senior IPL administrators with federal home ministry officials here.  "The home ministry conveyed its concerns and we also explained our views and the concerns of the various stakeholders. I don't want to say anything more."

The government wanted the schedule to be altered in such a way that states hosting games do not have to pull out security forces on election duty to guard the tournament.  With the November Mumbai attacks and the February Pakistan terrorist attacks toward the Sri Lankan national cricket team which left six police officers killed and several players injured still in mind, the cries for heightened security have only increased in India and have now led to what can potentially be the cancellation of the second Indian Premier League season.  With some of the world's best cricketers ready to play in this tournament, they do not want to become targets.

Due to the many events going on worldwide in cricket, this is the only window the Indian Premier League has to play.  If by some chance the home ministry rejects another proposal, it is inconceivable that an agreeable plan can be made with the tournament less than a month away.  The world Twenty20 championships start in England on June 5.

Insiders estimate that a cancellation would cost tournament stakeholders anything between £50-100m.  Since security can be possible elsewhere at a price, the shareholders of the IPL might have to search for it themselves in order to keep the league-and most of all, their investment-afloat. 

So, tell us what you think about the Indian Premier League possibly being cancelled.  Is it something you wish didn't happen?  Can the IPL have cricket during general elections?  Drop us a comment.