Security To Be Upped For World Twenty20
The International Cricket Council has announced plans to increase security at the World Twenty20 tournament to be held in England this summer.
Following the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore during their tour of Pakistan, many in the sport have raised concerns about visiting the sub-continent, threatening the future of the likes of the Champions Trophy and the 2011 World Cup both of which are due to be staged in the region.
These fears that have now been mirrored for the World Twenty20 in England following the announcement that a warm-up match between India and Pakistan has been arranged for the Brit Oval on 3rd June, two days before the event starts.
Steve Elworthy, the tournament director, said the decision to pit the 2007 finalists against each other had been taken more than six months ago, before the terrorist attacks in Mumbai and Lahore.
Elworthy said that the ICC board had approved the fixture and that there was ‘a hell of a robust security plan’ in place.
A security directorate chaired by Sir John Evans, the former chief constable of Devon & Cornwall Constabulary, and featuring Reg Dickason, the ECB’s head of security, and advisers from the Home Office and Metropolitan Police, are meeting regularly to discuss measures to protect the event.
Security arrangements will be enhanced from those in place for the 2007 World Twenty20 in South Africa.
Commented Elworthy: ‘The situation is different and we have to plan accordingly. Reg and I have had some prolonged calls in the past two weeks. The terrorists have become more active and this focuses the mind, but we are very confident that we have the right plan.’
Spectators will face more checks when they enter the grounds but there are plans to provide an adequate number of personnel on the gates to reduce delays.
A drive to recruit 1,000 volunteers for the event, all of whom must be vetted, has been launched while a final round of tickets, including the warm-up matches, will go on sale this week.
