25 March 2024 last updated at 19:12 GMT
 
Cops for enhanced security at BKC for warm-up game against England
Tuesday 16 October 2012

City police today suggested enhanced security deployment at the city`s BKC ground for the visiting England team`s second warm-up game, days after the MCA wrote to the BCCI requesting it to shift the match to D Y Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, mainly for security reasons.

The Mumbai Cricket Association had recently requested the BCCI to shift the game to D Y Patil Stadium, saying that there was no fence on the boundary of the Bandra Kurla Complex ground, which may lead to spectators jumping into the playing area.

The MCA representatives have also met city police officials, raising the security concerns, following which Deputy Police Commissioner (Zone VIII) Namdev Chavan, under whose jurisdiction the ground falls, visited the place on a number of occasions to decide on security measures.

After his review, the officer prepared a detailed report, in which he suggested that "enhanced security" was needed for smooth play of the game, scheduled from November 3 to 5, police sources said.

When contacted, Chavan refused to comment, saying the report which was submitted to his seniors was confidential.

The report did not talk of shifting the match to other ground due to security reasons, but it highlighted that the enhanced security was needed to ensure smooth play of the match, the sources added.

"No fencing on the boundary of the BKC ground is a cause of concern, but deployment of more security personnel at the ground is required to avoid any disruption to the match," the source added.

Additional Closed Circuit Televisions were required to be installed, police sources added.

Meanwhile, MCA president Ravi Savant today told PTI, "We are awaiting the response from the BCCI on the request of shifting the game to D Y Patil Stadium."

"The Cricket Board is expected to decide on the matter by tomorrow. Daljit Singh (BCCI Grounds and Pitches Committee chairman) is already in town and is expected to go to D Y Patil ground tomorrow," Savant said.

"It is proper to hold the match at D Y Patil stadium even though it has been agreed that the match will be held at the BKC ground, which does not have any facility for the spectators, like toilets. There are no restaurants around the ground," he added.

The match against Sri Lanka was held here 10 years ago and much water has flown down the bridge after that, Savant said.

The fencing at the BKC ground is not high and strong enough to contain the crowd and police are sceptic about the security in and around the place, he said adding that provisional bookings have been done at hotels in Navi Mumbai.

England are to reach Mumbai on October 29 and will prepare for the four-Test series, considered a grudge series by India after their 0-4 rout in the last away series, by playing three warm-up tour games -- two in Mumbai and the third in Ahmedabad, venue of the opening Test.

England`s tour opener is scheduled from October 30 to November 1 at the Cricket Club of India`s Brabourne Stadium and the third game is to be held on the second ground, just outside the Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera from November 8-11.

The opening Test is scheduled at the Motera main stadium from November 15-19 with the subsequent matches scheduled at Mumbai, Kolkata (Dec 5-9) and Nagpur (Dec 13-17).

England play two T20 Internationals against India on December 20 (Pune) and December 22 (Mumbai) prior to departing home for the Christmas and New Year break, before returning to play a five-match ODI series in January next year.

PTI

 

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