Under a security wrap, Mohali becomes city of detours

MOHALI: The tiny north Indian city of Mohali has suddenly become a city of detours with thousands of fans streaming in from all over India and neighbouring Pakistan for Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final between the arch-rivals.

Strapping Punjab Police personnel, resplendent in their red-blue turban, were busy all day diverting every vehicle which strayed anywhere near the 28,000-seater stadium without a parking sticker.

For a match that would draw, among others, prime ministers of both the countries and a bevy of politicians, industrialists and celebrities, an unprecedented security blanket has been thrown around the venue.

With so much riding on the contest between the neighbours who have fought in three wars since their 1947 independence, the elite Special Protection Group and the National Security Guard have also been deployed in and around the stadium.

Local media reported anti-aircraft guns were being placed in strategic locations, while a water canon was spotted outside gate number four to prevent any potential demonstration, like the one that took place on Monday.

Busloads of Punjab Police personnel were being rushed in and 1500 of them were deployed in and around the team hotel in Chandigarh alone.

“Colleagues told me more than 2000 police personnel have been drawn from all over Punjab,” said Gurpreet Singh after frisking a visitor and recovering a cigarette packet which he threw in a basket.

Some 50 sniffer dogs were roaming inside the stadium and the journalists had to vacate the place by 1600 IST (1030 GMT) on Monday to facilitate a lockdown.

Before that, Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men opted for a light practice session but their Pakistani counterparts surprised many by taking the day off.

Only skipper Shahid Afridi turned up for the pre-match news conference and said the team wanted to take a break.

“We have put in a lot of effort and today’s off was absolutely necessary to save ourselves for tomorrow,” said the all-rounder.

Dhoni and his colleagues went through their paces, the highlight being Sachin Tendulkar’s batting practice using a granite slab.

On the verge of his 100th international century, Tendulkar had the slab placed at short of length where bowlers pitched it and the batsman practised back-foot shots, including the pull and the upper-cut, while some of the police personnel fished out their mobile phones and took pictures.

Visitors continued to pour in and with a considerable number of Pakistani fans crossing over to India through the Wagah border post but Mohali and Chandigarh are struggling to accommodate them.

Bangladesh security force told to keep eyes off the ball

DHAKA: Police and elite security forces in Bangladesh have been warned against “loitering” and watching the cricket rather than doing their job at the World Cup.

The country’s home office issued a statement warning of a crackdown on the “rogue” security officials after members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and police were spotted lazing in media seats at a match in Dhaka on Saturday.

“The security people deployed at the stadium should be on their toes or inside their camps and must not loiter around or occupy others’ chairs in the gallery during World Cup matches,” a Home Ministry official said, reading out excerpts from an order sheet for Reuters.

The order was issued before Bangladesh meet Ireland in Dhaka on Friday in Group B.

Bangladesh are jointly hosting the World Cup with subcontinent neighbours India and Sri Lanka.

They staged the opening game last Saturday with a defeat by India.

Security at the Cricket World Cup in the sometimes volatile region is a particularly big issue in the sport after a gun attack on the Sri Lanka team in Lahore in March 2009 leading to the deaths of eight people.

Pakistan has not staged an international match since.

On the opening match in the country, officials of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) saw that a number of seats were occupied by a section of security officials and their families at the media overflow area.

“Some of them were on duty and the rest managed their entry through their colleagues having authority to issue an on-duty pass,” the Home Ministry official said.

He asked not to be named as the matter was so sensitive.

“The order is likely to prevent the rogue officials from becoming spectators at the stadium instead of doing their duty on match days,” an official of the RAB said.

Several hundred security officials drawn from police, RAB and intelligence agencies from different forces including the army will remain deployed in and around the stadium to give security to the players, officials and fans during match days.

“If the order is flouted or any personnel found repeating such an offence in the coming World Cup matches, they will be demoted or suspended from the service,” said a police spokesman.

“We must stop this attitude of some people enjoying matches at the expense of others or without making any payment.

“We will not allow any official irrespective of rank and file to lower the image of the nation in this illegal way.”

Dhaka is hosting five more matches including a quarter-final on March 25. TrendPK

Bangalore police defend baton charge on World Cup fans

BANGALORE: Bangalore’s police commissioner on Friday defended the baton attacks on cricket fans angry that they could not buy World Cup tickets, explaining his action was part of life in India.

Several fans seeking tickets for co-hosts India’s Group B match with England here on Sunday were hurt after they were forced back near Bangalore’s M. Chinnaswamy stadium by police wielding bamboo batons.

“(The police action was) to prevent greater injury, not to cause a small injury. People were falling over each other and there was a likelihood of stampede, therefore our people intervened. There is nothing serious,” Shankar Bidari, commissioner of police, said at the stadium.

“It is not a new thing.” The fans had understood that 7000 tickets would be available for the India-England game and grew angry when told all were sold out.

Bidari said a robust police action in such situations was normal in his country.

“The Indian situations and the Indian dimensions are very different. It’s difficult for the people who have lived in Europe and in America to understand,” Bidari said to open
sniggers from the gathered media.

MAJOR CONCERN
Security has been a major concern for the tournament which is being jointly staged by India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

The often volatile region was rocked in 2009 when gunmen in Lahore attacked a Sri Lanka cricket team bus, killing eight people. Several players were also injured.

Chaos as India-Eng tickets go on sale

BANGALORE: Indian police baton-charged thousands of World Cup cricket fans queuing for tickets for India”s weekend clash with England amid scenes of chaos outside Bangalore stadium.

Several people on Thursday were injured and taken away on stretchers as police attempted to keep order as an estimated 5,000 people pushed and shoved in an unruly line that stretched around the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Sunday”s game was switched at the last-minute to Bangalore because of problems at the Eden Gardens stadium in Kolkata where the match, one of the highlights of the early stages of the World Cup, had been due to be played.

A total of 7,000 tickets were on sale at the stadium on Thursday and sold out in several hours, a secretary at the state cricket association, Javagal Srinath, said.

People had begun queuing on Wednesday night and the crowd grew bigger on Thursday morning, leading to a huge crush when the half dozen counters opened on Thursday morning.

World Cup final venue fails fire safety inspection

MUMBAI: Wankhede Stadium, venue for the Cricket World Cup final on April 2, has not met fire safety standards, the chief fire officer for Mumbai told the Press Trust of India on Friday.

“We will soon write a letter to the MCA (Mumbai Cricket Association) stating there is a need to comply with fire safety norms at the stadium. Once they abide by the terms we would again conduct an inspection,” chief fire officer Uday Tatkare was quoted as saying.

“The team has found that the newly renovated stadium has many loopholes in its fire safety mechanism. The stadium must be in compliance with the fire safety conditions,” Tatkare said. AGENCIES

Lights turned on at London’s Olympic Stadium

The lights have been officially switched on at London 2012′s Olympic Stadium. Prime Minister David Cameron pressed the switch on the 14 light towers, which rise more than 70 metres above the stadium and include a total of 532 individual lights.

Snow blanketed the infield of the stadium – which is due for completion next year – as dozens of local schoolchildren and stadium construction workers watched the switch on, along with London 2012 chairman Seb Coe and Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London.

Cameron praise everyone involved in the design and construction of the 537m stadium in Stratford. He told the specially-invited crowd of 400: It is being delivered on time and on budget thanks to British genius and many of the people here. He added: In 2012 a light will shine on all of our country as billions look on.

No end to CWG mishaps: Scoreboard collapses

There seems to be no end to Commonwealth Games-related mishaps. After a brief lull, notoriety is back to haunt the sporting event when a 25-feet-high electronic scoreboard at the rugby stadium in Delhi University collapsed. The video matrix LED screen scoreboard was installed at a cost of Rs 1.5 crore. No one was injured in the mishap.
The incident comes barely four days before matches begin at the venue. The rugby stadium will host matches from October 11 onwards.
The scoreboard collapsed when some finishing touches were being given to the peripheral areas of the venue. Soon after the collapse, several paramilitary officials were rushed to the site. Security personnel blocked the entrance to the venue and cordoned off the area soon after the collapse. Construction work at the stadium was completed only a day ago. Barely seven days ago, during a safety check, it was found that the scoreboard was not functional due to shortage of direct power supply required to check the equipment. Also, the Delhi Police was able to lock down the venue only a day ago, after the stadium was handed over to them.

Zulqarnain Haider Fractured Finger

Third test match between England and Pakistan is starting from 18th August. Top scoring batsman and wicket keeper Zulqarnain Haider had injured his finger. It is doubted that may be he will not be available for third test match. He reached London to meet specialist on Sunday. His inclusion in the team will base on the diagnosis.

Yawar Saeed, Pakistan’s manager told that he is suffering from hairline fracture in the little finger. Haider was rescuer for Pakistan team in the last test match when he was declared out on pair and after referral given not out. He then showed his class and made brilliant 88 runs which helped Pakistan to come out from follow on and also gave lead to England.

He was suffering from pain and after X-ray it came to know that he has hairline fracture. He was part of 2nd test match team after dropping Kamran Akmal. Haider showed his skill with gloves even he dropped few balls. M Yousaf is also expected to play in third test match. Umar Gul’s inclusion is also doubted. If Haider will not recover then Kamran Akmal is expected to come back in team.

Floodlights Improved For Tri-Series In Dambulla

Rangiri Dambulla Stadium was under great criticism during Aisa Cup. The reason for criticism was flood lights of the stadium. Now during the current tri-series the flood lights have been improved. Now there will be enough light in the stadium that is required for cricket.

Ashley de Silva, Sri Lanka Cricket’s head of cricket operations stated that the illumination levels of lights have been increased after their replacement. The previous capacity of bulbs in the stadium was 1000-1100. These bulbs are erected on eight towers with each tower containing 21 bulbs. After the replacement the range of these bulbs has now reached to 1300 and 1400 watts.

The previous level of lights was not appreciated by players as they thought that the light was not enough for playing. Scott Styris said earlier in the week that conditions should be little brighter to have good sight of the ball.

The slandered of lights were first questioned during Asia Cup when it was complained by many cricketers that it is difficult to play in low light. Gautam Gambhir complained that spinner cant be picked in such low light. Lasith Malinga declared it not up to international standards. Now after the replacement of lights it is thinking that problems of cricketers will reduce after it.

Sri Lanka 91/1 at Lunch in first Test against India

GALLE, Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka lost wicket of Dilshan and made 91 at Lunch on the first day of the opener of the three-match test series at Galle International Stadium which was delayed by an hour because of a wet pitch.

Originally posted here:
Sri Lanka 91/1 at Lunch in first Test against India

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