COLOMBO: Sri Lanka will deploy elite armed units to protect teams participating in next month’s T20 World Cup as part of heightened security arrangements, with special focus on high-profile matches between arch-rivals India and Pakistan, officials said.
The island nation is co-hosting the biennial cricket tournament with India and will stage 20 matches from February 7 to March 8. Pakistan and India are scheduled to face each other at least once in a Group A match in Colombo on February 15.
Cricket encounters between the two nuclear-armed neighbours have often carried political overtones, particularly after last year’s brief border conflict.
Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage said Sri Lanka had given top priority to ensuring the smooth conduct of the tournament and was paying special attention to fixtures involving India and Pakistan.
Security officials said elite commando units — normally assigned to protect visiting heads of state — would be deployed to guard all teams throughout their stay, from airport arrivals to departures.
Pakistan declined to play its matches in India due to political tensions, prompting the International Cricket Council (ICC) to shift its fixtures to neutral Sri Lanka. Bangladesh also sought to move its matches over security concerns, but the ICC rejected the request and later included Scotland in place of Bangladesh.
Pakistan has hinted it may boycott the event in solidarity with Bangladesh.
Sri Lankan authorities have remained neutral amid the regional dispute. Cricket Secretary Bandula Dissanayake said Colombo did not wish to be drawn into political differences among friendly nations, while reaffirming Sri Lanka’s willingness to host future tournaments if requested.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka has upgraded several venues ahead of the World Cup, including installing new floodlights at the Singhalese Sports Club in Colombo. The Pallekele Stadium in Kandy, which escaped damage from a cyclone in November, will also host international matches during the tournament.