An increased threat from the Taliban is adding to the concerns of player associations over security arrangements at the Indian Premier League.

Security experts in Australia have received intelligence suggesting that the security threat in India, where the IPL begins on March 12, is greater because of this year’s Commonwealth Games and the political situation between India and Pakistan.

It is understood an unsolicited report from an Australian firm with offices in India suggested the Taliban threat was high due to their desire to instigate a war between India and Pakistan which would relieve the pressure on their forces fighting the Pakistan army.

While there has not been a specific threat to the IPL, any incident would seriously jeopardise India’s chance of hosting the Commonwealth Games which is scheduled to start on Oct 4.

The IPL and player associations have been locked in a stand-off over security details since Shiv Sena, a right wing political party in Mumbai, made specific threats to Australian cricketers.

But fear has spread beyond the Australian cricketing community after it was revealed that the terrorist threat level in India was the same as it was in the immediate aftermath of the Mumbai attacks in December 2008.

After weeks of pressure the IPL now seem set to share their security arrangements with the Australian Cricketers’ Association but individual player unions are likely to appoint their own experts to asses the risk.

Reg Dickason, the security officer who travels abroad with the England team, will almost certainly prepare a report for the nine English cricketers contracted with IPL teams.

Tim May, chief executive of the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations, told The Daily Telegraph that the security situation applied to all players, not just Australians.

He said: "This is not just a concern for Australian players, it is a concern for all players that are heading to India for the IPL. In the world we live in there are security risks everywhere we go but more so in some of the particular areas where the IPL is being held.

"I am aware that players from across the world have written to their franchises requesting details of security but unfortunately that has not met with a positive response from the IPL. But there might be a situation where players individually will be able to appoint security advisers to review those arrangements via their respective boards."

There is a feeling within the IPL that player associations are using the security situation to engineer a bargaining position with a league that refuses to deal with unions.

The Twenty20 Champions League passed off without incident last year and South Africa have so far experienced no problems on their current tour of India.