IND VS PAK T20 World Cup: Security tightened in Sri Lankan capital before the India-Pak match, players got armed security

Colombo: Sri Lanka Police on Saturday said that special security arrangements will be made ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup cricket match between India and Pakistan to be held in Colombo on Sunday. Arch rivals India and Pakistan will face each other on Sunday at the R Premadasa Stadium here. Sri Lankan officials said that no risk would be taken in terms of security in staging the match.

“We (Sri Lanka Police) have made special traffic and security arrangements,” police spokesman F T Wootler told reporters. The encounter comes after weeks of uncertainty. Pakistan had announced boycott of the match in support of Bangladesh. Then there were intensive talks between the International Cricket Council (ICC), Bangladesh and Sri Lanka on this issue. The Sri Lankan government had also appealed to Pakistan to change its decision as co-host of the tournament could have caused huge losses to the preparations already done.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake called Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and discussed the need to send his team to Colombo to play the match. This will be India’s first match outside its home ground in this tournament. Earlier, the government had said that security has been given top priority to prevent any untoward incident during this match.

“As soon as the teams leave the airport, they will be provided with armed security,” Wootler said. They will be accompanied by armed guards until they return to the plane.” Spectators have been requested to arrive four hours before the match, which is scheduled to start at 7 pm. “All gates will be opened at 3 p.m.,” Wootler said. “We request the public to reach the grounds as quickly as possible.”