Lawson holds no fears for life ahead of India departure

Melbourne, Feb 24 (ANI): Former Australian Test cricketer Geoff Lawson will fly to India tomorrow to start a coaching stint despite security threats to the Indian Premier League.

Despite Tuesday's meeting with the Australian Cricketers' Association in Sydney failing to reach a resolution for players,Lawson will fly to Pune to help the European Cricket Council.

Most Australian cricketers with IPL contracts, including Shane Warne and Brett Lee, attended a high-priority meeting with ACA chief executive Paul Marsh, who outlined the security report compiled by Reg Dickason.

Lawson said he held no fears for his life, but was unsure what he would do if he were involved in the IPL.

"I'm happy to go after listening to my sources in Pakistan and India, but I'm there coaching, and the IPL is a much bigger picture. It's tricky. From what I can gather the players are getting advice and then told to make up their own mind. There's been no real clear leadership," The Herald Sun quoted him, saying.

Player groups around the world are putting together a list of concerns for the Federation for International Cricketers' Association to hand to IPL organisers.

Marsh said a list of safety demands would be lodged with the IPL before players committed themselves to the Twenty20 tournament, which begins on March 12.

IPL chief Lalit Modi tried to take the heat out of the argument last night, and said: "I spoke to a couple of the (Australian) boys yesterday about it. I think they will all take part.

"The tournament will go on. They are very comfortable with it. Not all players have said they don't want to come. Some have had concerns and we have taken care of their concerns. There's nothing to be concerned about," he said. (ANI)