The second edition of the IPL, featuring the world's top players, including England's Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff, is due to start on April 10.

 

But there are concerns it could be a target for terrorists after the bombings last November in Mumbai and the attack earlier this month in Lahore on Sri Lanka's cricket team.

 

The IPL, a multi-million pound Twenty20 six-week tournament featuring eight teams, coincides with India's General Elections and there are fears that the security forces will be overstretched.

 

Suresh Kalmadi, the president of the IOA, said: “[The] IPL should be postponed because a lot of state Governments have also said it is not the right time and they need paramilitary forces which I think the Government can’t give.

 

"So, if there is a severe incident during the IPL matches, I think it will have repercussions on the Commonwealth Games itself."

 

There are amounting concerns among several countries, particularly Australia, about security at the Commonwealth Games, which are due to be held in New Delhi between October 3 and 14, 2010.

 

Wales have also admitted that they are worried about sending athletes to India.

 

But Kalmadi has insisted that countries should be reassured that they are doing everything possible to make the Games safe.

 

He said: “We had many meetings with the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, who is responsible for security and the Secretary of the Home Ministry.

 

"With every incident, our security has been upgraded."