Indian Premier League chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi has confirmed plans to stage tournaments outside India.

The League is taking a particular interest in the United States.

The 2009 IPL was eventually forced to move from India to South Africa because of security concerns surrounding the country's elections taking place at the same time, but the success of the tournament has persuaded League chiefs to further explore global opportunities.

While other Asian territories, North America and the Middle East are all on Modi's hit-list, the United States is at the forefront of the IPL's plans with the USA Cricket Association keen to promote the Twenty20 format of the sport in a what remains a huge untapped market with unofficial estimates outlining between eight and 20 million cricket fans in the country.

"There are plans in the works to hold IPL matches overseas and we hope to be able to provide fans all around the world with the live IPL cricketing carnival experience," Modi said.

"We are looking at a shorter version of the league post the IPL seasons, which will help us take the game to the fans across the globe. Initially we are looking at markets which have large Indian and cricket loving populations such as USA, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Bangkok, Middle East, Canada and others.

"We will also host a few matches in the US in the next 18 months or so. My team have started examining venues and dates which may be available for this in the summer months. The duration for all these tournaments will be short and compact.

"Along with these markets, South Africa will undoubtedly be high on our priority list after seeing the astounding response we received during IPL season 2009. The remarkable success achieved there will obviously see us want to go back there soon."

Meanwhile, Modi maintains "there is no reason to worry" amid security concerns surrounding this year's event.

India's cricket chiefs yesterday met with the leader of a far right political party in an effort to seek guarantees on the issue of safety of Australia's players during the IPL.

Former Board of Control for Cricket in India president and International Cricket Council president-in-waiting Sharad Pawar along with current BCCI president Shashank Manohar met with Balasaheb Thackeray, the leader of the Shiv Sena party, with a request to withdraw threats of disrupting IPL matches in Mumbai.

Shiv Sena had threatened to attack Australian players contracted with several IPL teams in retaliation for attacks on Indians in Australia.

The latest threats come after the opening ceremony and inaugural match of the 2010 IPL on March 11 were last month moved from Hyderabad to Mumbai because of safety concerns.

Modi explained: "As for the security threats being sighted by various players associations - please let me remind you that India is a safe and sovereign nation very capable of looking after its own security.

"We have after all played host to major events in the recent past - like the successfully concluded inaugural Champions League Twenty20, where a lot of the players who are likely to play in the IPL had already participated.

He added: "The World Badminton Championships happened in India last year, as did the Under-19 World Volleyball Championship and the stage is now set for World Cup Hockey to be conducted in India next month, then India will also play host to the Commonwealth Games. And all of this in a period of 18 months. We believe there is no reason to worry.

"I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our Honourable Union Home Minister (Palaniappan Chidambaram) for his assurance of player security. The IPL as always are leaving no stone unturned to ensure the safety and security of all concerned and are working cohesively with the respective boards of each of the participating countries - and will continue to do so."