Ahead of the much-anticipated India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup Match on June 9 at the Nassau County Cricket Stadium in Long Island, New York, security agencies were put on a high alert following a potential “lone wolf attack“.
According to Wikipedia, Lone wolf attack “is a particular kind of mass murder, committed in a public setting by an individual who plans and commits the act on their own.”
Following the threat, a report from NYPD states that the police presence will be everywhere, on the ground and in the air, and “Nassau County will have seen the tightest security ever.”
One of the archrivals of the cricket community – the India vs Pakistan clash will grab a larger audience from all around the world than many other cricket matches.
Rohit Sharma-led India will lock horns with Babar Azam-led Pakistan to play the 19th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 on June 9 in Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York.
Ahead of the India-Pakistan game, this security situation was revealed to the media on Wednesday morning (Eastern Time) by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder.
“Each and every day, Nassau County, as well as other communities and cities and counties and towns throughout the United States, receive all kinds of threats. We take every threat seriously,” Blakeman was quoted as saying by CBS News.
“To that end, we have taken many, many precautions. As well as making sure that the stadium and the surrounding Eisenhower Park are safe, the parking areas are safe, the watch areas are safe, we also are adding 100 additional police officers to our normal staffing for the rest of the county, just as a precaution.”
One particular tip-off was about a potential lone wolf attack on the June 9 game, according to the report which attributed it to the police commissioner.
“When you’ve got a game and a crowd as big as this, everything is credible. We will go through every fine detail when it comes to the security and safety of the residents here in Nassau County.
I can guarantee you this is the largest security we’ve ever had to do in this county’s history, and I can also guarantee you the safest place to be in Nassau County on June 9 will be inside that stadium,” Ryder said.
It will be a new and tough task for the local authorities to control the crowd and to provide optimal security services as it will be the first time in entire cricket history for New York to host the great India vs Pakistan clash. Even the Governor of New York State was involved and she said public safety will be her priority.
“In preparation for the Cricket World Cup, my Administration has been working for months with federal law enforcement and Nassau County to ensure New Yorkers and visitors are safe. This has included close coordination with the New York State Police Counter Terrorism Unit and New York State Police Troop L, based on Long Island.
While there is no credible public safety threat at this time, we continue to monitor the situation closely. I have also directed the New York State Police to engage in elevated security measures, including an increased law enforcement presence, advanced surveillance, and thorough screening processes.
Public safety is my top priority and we are committed to ensuring the Cricket World Cup is a safe, enjoyable experience,” the office of Kathy Hochul said in a statement released on Wednesday (May 29) morning.
Meanwhile, the ICC said it is coordinating with the authorities. “The safety and security of everyone at the event is our number one priority and we have a comprehensive and robust security plan in place.
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,” a spokesperson for the International Cricket Council said.
The CBS report also quoted Ryder on the measures being undertaken to ensure safety, which include Eisenhower Park being closed from 6:30 AM to roughly 6 PM, with the police reopening the area once fans leave for the day.
In addition to that, the spectators will have to go through metal detectors to enter the stadium grounds and won’t be allowed to carry bags/drones and non-VIP ticket-holders.
The parking at Eisenhower Park will also be limited to VIP ticket holders; others will be able to park near the Nassau Coliseum, which is about a half mile away.
Indian Squad: Rohit Sharma(c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant(wk), Sanju Samson(wk), Hardik Pandya(vc), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
Pakistan Squad: Babar Azam (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan
