Bomb blasts rock Indian Premier League cricket match, 15 injured

Bomb blasts rock Indian Premier League cricket match, 15 injured

Safety of cricket players scrutinized in Bangalore as bomb blasts do not deter game play.

April 21, 2010 8:17 by Katherine Azmeh

Officials charge that player safety was compromised when two bombs exploded outside Bangalore’s Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday, ahead of an Indian Premier League match, the BBC reported Wednesday.

Despite the injury of 15, the scheduled cricket match proceeded with approximately 40,000 fans in attendance.

A total of five explosive devices were recovered, three of which were found and defused the following day, according to the report.

“I don’t think it’s any secret there were some problems in Bangalore,” Angus Porter, Professional Cricketers’ Association chief executive told BBC.

“When an explosive device was found the decision to progress with that game was made too early. I think we can say that safety was compromised on that occasion,” Porter added.

According to Porter, the decision to proceed with match play was made before officials realized the presence of five devices.

“I don’t think there was full possession of the facts,” BBC quoted him as saying.