Sri Lanka will deploy elite armed units to protect participating teams during next month’s ICC T20 World Cup, stepping up security with special emphasis on high-profile matches between arch-rivals India and Pakistan, officials told AFP.
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Sri Lanka is co-hosting the biennial tournament with India and will stage 20 matches from February 7 to March 8. India and Pakistan are set to face each other at least once in their Group A encounter in Colombo on February 15.
Cricket fixtures between the two nuclear-armed neighbours have often reflected wider political tensions, particularly after a brief conflict between them last year.
Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage said Sri Lanka had given the “highest priority” to ensuring the smooth conduct of the tournament, adding that authorities were “paying special attention to the India–Pakistan matches”.
Security officials said elite commando units — typically tasked with protecting visiting heads of state — will be assigned to safeguard all teams throughout their stay.
“From the time they step out of the airport until they return to their aircraft, they will be protected by armed guards,” one official said on condition of anonymity.
Due to longstanding sensitivities, India and Pakistan have often avoided travelling to each other for sporting events, instead competing at neutral venues under a hybrid model. For this reason, the International Cricket Council (ICC) shifted their World Cup fixtures to Sri Lanka.
Bangladesh had also sought to move their matches out of India citing security concerns, but the ICC rejected the request. Dhaka subsequently withdrew from the tournament, with Scotland brought in as a replacement. Pakistan has indicated it may still boycott the event in solidarity with Bangladesh.
Sri Lanka has stayed publicly neutral amid the regional dispute.
Cricket Secretary Bandula Dissanayake said Colombo did not wish to be drawn into disagreements among participating nations.
“In these disputes among India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, we are remaining neutral. All of these are friendly nations,” he said, adding that Sri Lanka would be open to hosting future tournaments for any of them if requested.
The island nation is also using the World Cup to upgrade its cricket infrastructure. New floodlights have been installed at Colombo’s Singhalese Sports Club, while the Pallekele Stadium in Kandy — which escaped damage from a deadly cyclone in November — is set to host a T20 international between Sri Lanka and England from Friday.
