Tight security for Indian cricketers in Bangladesh

Bangladesh will provide the highest possible security coverage to Indian cricket team, which is now in Dhaka to play three one-day internationals and two Test matches with Bangladesh.

By Nazrul Islam

Dhaka, May 7 : Bangladesh will provide the highest possible security coverage to Indian cricket team, which is now in Dhaka to play three one-day internationals and two Test matches with Bangladesh.

"They will be given the highest security coverage which we usually provide to any VIP who travels to Bangladesh," said a top home ministry official, adding that all arrangements have been taken for the sake of the players' hassle-free travel and stay in Bangladesh.

The Indian team arrived at Zia International Airport at around 10:30 a.m. on Monday, and is staying at the Sheraton Hotel in Dhaka .

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Naim Ahmed, however, refused to comment on the players' security arrangements, but sources in the government said the arrangement was being coordinated by a joint secretary at the home ministry.

Contingents of police both in uniform and plainclothes will guard the Indian players round the clock from venue to hotels or any other places they intend to travel.

"More than 50 uniformed policemen will in constantly be with the Indian squad," said an official.

During their stay in Bangladesh, the Indian team will play two one-day internationals in Dhaka while the other in Chittagong . The one-day series will start on May 10 with the first match at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium which will also host the second game on May 12.

The third and final one-dayer will be held at the Chittagong Divisional Stadium on May 15.he three one-dayers will be followed by the Test series, which will start at Chittagong on May 18.

A week later the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka, will have its Test baptism with the second match from May 25 to 29.

The 22-member delegation include the Indian one-day squad Rahul Dravid (captain), Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Dinesh Karthik, S Sreesanth, Munaf Patel, Zaheer Khan, Romesh Powar, Gautam Gambhir, Robin Uthappa Virender Sehwag, Manoj Tiwary, Dinesh Mongia, Piyus Chawla and R P Singh. Ravi Shastri is the manager cum-coach of the team.

Earlier on Sunday, Bangladesh Cricket Board boss Mahmudur Rahman had said that the Indian cricketers will be given statesman like security during their stay in Bangladesh. The authorities have chosen the executive floors of the hotels for the stay of the players in Dhaka and Chittagong.

ANI