Currently touring India, the Australian cricket team has been provided with tight security arrangements amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan after the suicide attack on the Central Reserve Police Force convoy in the Indian-controlled region of Kashmir on February 14.
The situation has become tense with both nuclear-armed countries flexing their military muscle over the last three days. Both nations claim to have carried out airstrikes and to have downed each other's fighter jets.
Both Australian and Indian cricket teams have been provided with heavy security before the first One Day International match to be played in Hyderabad on Saturday.
According to a report published in Deccan Chronicle, around 2,300 policemen from various wings of the police force will be guarding the stadium during the match. This includes six platoons of Armed forces with 30 personnel in each platoon, as well as teams from the Organisation for Counter Terrorist Operation.
Source: AAP Image/ EPA/RAMINDER PAL SINGH
Mahesh Bhagwat, the Rachakonda police commissioner, said, "The stadium is under surveillance of 200 CCTV cameras which will be monitored from the joint command and control room at the stadium."
Mohali, Delhi matches could be shifted: Reports
According to a report published on cricket website Firstpost : "The matches between India and Australia to be played at Mohali and Delhi could be shifted to other cities due to the current situation."
The Indian and Australian cricket teams are scheduled to compete in Mohali and Delhi on March 10 and 13 respectively.
The Mohali stadium sits virtually next door to a key Indian Air Force base, and is located directly in its flight path, as well as being near the border of Pakistan. Even the final Delhi match could be shifted, according to a news report.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India has yet to release a statement and has not made any decisions regarding the Mohali and Delhi matches, but the Firstpost website claims the decision will be made in the next few days, with both the Bengaluru and Kolkata being asked to get their grounds ready.
Source: AAP Image/ EPA/RAMINDER PAL SINGH
Another report, published in The Times of India, stated, "The Saurashtra Cricket Stadium in Rajkot in the state of Gujarat has offered to host any of these games if it's required to be shifted."
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