The Indian Team began their 2024 T20 World Cup campaign with a win over Bangladesh in their lone warm-up tie in New York on Saturday (June 1), but that didn’t make headlines; the tight security cover provided to both teams did. Amid security-related concerns for the Indian Team from ISIS-linked terror outfits, mainly targeted towards the India-Pakistan game on June 9, the local security agencies at Nassau County are leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to curb this.
Per the latest report in Cricbuzz, the number of security personnel, police and paramedics present at the newly-built Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York was enough to match the number of spectators who came to watch the game.
The report also said that a helicopter hovered over the ground constantly while the Indian Team was placed under a high-security cordon. Moreover, the Indian Team bus was driven via an alternative route and not through the usual thoroughfares of New York’s Long Island. The new (25-minute long) route, crossing the golf course, was known to a handful of security personnel and was used before and after the game.
A team official also commented on this, saying, “No one knows which route the teams will travel through. It is up to the police.”
Meanwhile, the Indian Team is staying at a five-star hotel in Long Island, with high-security cover provided to them. While access to the hotel is exclusive to the staff and the hotel guests, those attempting to enter it without authorisation shall be removed swiftly, with police taking command of the situation if necessary.
Trouble for all
Following the threat, all concerned parties and stakeholders took the matter into their own hands and upped the security in and around the venue., with multiple police forces, including the New York Police Department (NYPD), New York State Police, and Nassau County Police taking charge.
Although the extensive security cover has troubled the spectators, media personnel and even players trying to enter the stadium, the ICC is working on providing a secure and enjoyable space for everyone attending the matches.
“Security measures are stringent but necessary. We don’t want it either eased or tightened! The discussion with the police will be to improve the process to get all the attendees. This is what needs to be communicated to the police,” an ICC official said, as quoted by Cricbuzz.
Meanwhile, India’s first game of the tournament is against Ireland at the same venue on Wednesday (June 5), and will next face Pakistan in the marquee clash on Sunday (June 9).