Indian Premier League (IPL) Lalit Modi has warned any player who decides to pull out from the year’s lucrative league in wake of security and safety concerns could risk their future in the tournament.

“The call will be theirs. We will allow replacements for those who decide not to show up. We have 98 players on the waiting list eager to get called in,” Modi was quoted by BBC. “The IPL is for India and will remain for India. No one can dictate to us how we should conduct our tournaments.”

Modi also went so far as to post: “Been told (Australia captain) Ricky Ponting (is) pressuring players not to come.’

The independent report, written by British security expert Reg Dickason, raised “serious” concerns about safety at the IPL, according to the head of the Australian Cricketers’ Association, Paul Marsh. After a number of players, particularly from Australia, have offered concerns raised by a report into security at the event.

”If you’re looking at the terrorist threat in India at the moment there are a number of strands,” stated Clover, the general manager at Hart Security, which provides advice for travelling and working in some of the world’s most challenging areas. “There is the Maoist or Naxalite strand which tends to be rural-based groups who act against security forces from the Indian establishment.”

“You’ve got separatism, the long-term problem up in Kashmir, and probably the most challenging strand of terrorism that faces the Indians in the Islamic Al Qaeda element,” added Clover.

But, Modi went onto with the messages on Twitter that the government has already given ample assurances for safe conduct of games. He said players who chose not to show up would risk not being in future IPLs. “The call will be theirs. We will allow replacements for those who decide not to show up. We have 98 players on the waiting list eager to get called in,” added Modi. “The IPL is for India and will remain for India. No one can dictate to us how we should conduct our tournaments.”