In the aftermath of the 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka national cricket team in Pakistan, there has been a growing concern over the security arrangements for the 2009 Indian Premier League (IPL) in India with many international players inquiring the franchises over their safety and asking for an independent security assessment. However, due to the direct clash of the IPL matches with the 2009 Indian general elections, the Government of India refused to provide the paramilitary forces during the games with the Home Minister, P. Chidambaram reiterating, “Elections are unquestionably first priority over the IPL.” On 24 March 2009, Board of Control for Cricket in India announced that the IPL was to be held in South Africa and had decided to compensate the franchises for the extra expenditure they would incur in moving the team from India for this season.