Police-franchise row may queer Mohali pitch

Mohali, India: With the Punjab Police demanding that nearly Rs18 million (Dh1.5 million) be deposited with it for pending dues of security cover provided for cricket matches at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) stadium here, ties between the security force and the district administration on one side and the PCA and Indian Premier League (IPL) Mohali franchise on the other have hit a new low.

A terse communication from the Mohali district police chief R.S. Khatra to the deputy commissioner Sunday has demanded that the security dues be realised from PCA before the next IPL match to be played here today failing which no security will be provided for the last IPL match to be played here.

The Mohali police has been stationing between 500 to 1,000 security personnel at matches here. Seven matches were to be played here this IPL season. Only one remains to be played.