Police snipers have been stationed at covert spots across the stadium to increase security ahead of the inaugural T20 World Cup match in Nassau County, New York.
The 34,000-seat stadium, which was constructed in just 103 days, will host a match between South Africa and Sri Lanka on Monday, June 3. To guarantee that the matches at the Long Island venue between June 3 and June 12 are planned without a hitch, the Nassau County Police Department will oversee a massive operation.
The stadium is scheduled to host the tantalising match between India and Pakistan on June 9. With two bitter rivals facing off, this match is by far the most well-known one during the group stage.
There have been reports of threats to attack the competition from a pro-ISIS group. It is accepted that one of the security measures would be the deployment of specialised snipers from SWAT squads. There will also be police officers in plain clothes on duty inside the stadium.
In a statement to BBC Sport, the International Cricket Council (ICC) stated, “We have a comprehensive and robust security plan in place and the safety and security of everyone at the event is our number one priority.”
“We work closely with authorities in our host countries and continually monitor and evaluate the global landscape to ensure appropriate plans are in place to mitigate any risks identified to our event,” said the governing body of cricket.
To mitigate the possibility of a drone strike, the park area encircling the stadium will be off-limits to the public for the eight days of play. Before they can enter the stadium, fans of cricket will undergo a rigorous screening process and be subjected to airport-style security scanners. Bruce Blakeman, the executive for Nassau County, declared last week that security would be “like the Super Bowl” but “on steroids”.
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The Nassau County International Cricket Stadium will host its final T20 World Cup match on June 12 between India and the United States. The scenic stadium, which cost US$30 million to build, will eventually be taken down and the site given back to Nassau County.