IPL's South African Safari - 3 burning questions

While South Africa has provided the answer to the BCCI's vexed problem of how to salvage this years IPL, three serious questions still need answering. Is it safe to host large sporting events in the subcontinent? Apart from the annual IPL event India is to host the Commonwealth Games next year and the ICC World Cup in 2011. If the IPL had gone ahead successfully this April it would have been a perfect dress rehearsal for the bigger international events. While the IPL may be crickets golden jewel its logistics and security arrangements pale in comparison with those needed for an international event like the Commonwealth Games. The Melbourne Games had 4500 athletes from 71 nations participating in 45 events over 12 days, the next World Cup will have only 12 nations and less than 200 cricketers. Can India and Pakistan co-host the 2011 WC? Salvos have been launched from either side of the border ever since India pulled out of the January series this year. The IPL management were quick to terminate contracts of all Pakistani players after the PCB prevented them for traveling to India for the IPL. Even if the World Cup continues in 2011 it is questionable if the Indian and Pakistan board can work together with the Indian board quite happy to host Pakistans share of matches given the revenue upside. Serious security concerns would also arise if the schedule requires one nations team to travel to the other at some stage of the tournament. The bigger question is given the deteriorating political relations in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks and the subsequent probe will these teams ever play each other in the near future. Each of the encounters between these rivals at past ICC World Cups including the most recent matchup in the 20:20 World Cup final has been a treat and if politics were to come in the way of a rematch cricket would end up on the losing side. Is this a blow to India's pride? Yes because for the last 12 months the IPL (and by default the BCCI) has been bullying other boards and rebel leagues to tow its line. The IPL was always an Indian tournament, run by Indian professionals, financed by India's biggest corporations (and celebs) with its longevity and popularity always dependent on the support of the Indian fanbase. To see the IPL now played in a foreign land is akin to watching your sons baraat (reception party) leave from the neighbours home.