Showing posts with label world cup news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label world cup news. Show all posts
An Indian soldier stands guard during a training session of the Sri Lankan cricket team at The Wankhede Cricket Stadium in Mumbai on March 31, 2011 - AFP
A massive security operation has been mounted for Saturday's cricket World Cup final in Mumbai – the highest-profile sporting event to be held in the city since the deadly 2008 militant attacks.
Although no specific threat has been made for the match between India and Sri Lanka, Mumbai Police Commissioner Arup Patnaik said he would prefer to take no chances with the safety of players and spectators.
"We will be overdoing it a bit," he admitted at a news conference in the city on Thursday. "But it's better to be on the safe side. The stakes are high."
Security has been increased in India's financial capital since the 2008 attacks, which saw 10 heavily-armed Islamist militants storm landmark targets, including three luxury hotels, in the south of the city.
A total of 166 people were killed and more than 300 were injured.
The Mumbai police were criticised at the time but have since handled security for a number of high-profile dignitaries, notably Barack Obama, who began his first visit to India as US president in the city last year.
The force has also successfully policed two Ganesha festivals, which every year see hundreds of thousands of Hindus throng the streets with idols of the revered four-armed, elephant-headed god.
For the World Cup final, to be attended by Indian President Pratibha Patil and her Sri Lankan counterpart, Mahinda Rajapakse, Patnaik said some 3,500 personnel will be deployed inside and outside the Wankhede Stadium.
They include the police's own rapid reaction force and paramilitary troops from the same commando unit that stormed the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower hotel in 2008 to end a 60-hour siege by four of the gunmen.
Both the Indian and Sri Lankan teams are staying at the landmark hotel, which has been ringed by a heavy police presence.
On the ground, spectators can expect to be frisked, with restrictions in place on taking food, drink, bags, electronics and other items into the 32,000-seater venue, which will be monitored by a network of security cameras.
India’s army, navy and air force will provide support for the police, Patnaik told reporters.
With memories still fresh of how the 2008 attackers arrived undetected by boat, air and sea patrols have been stepped up along the Mumbai coast as well as off neighbouring Gujarat state to the north.
Patnaik also said there would be a no-fly zone over the south of the city and extensive road blocks.
The head of the Mumbai Police crime branch, Himanshu Roy, said the background of ticket-holders from overseas was being checked while "anti-nationals and suspicious persons" were under surveillance.
"The Mumbai police is doing everything possible... to ensure that this is going to be a safe and happy event for Mumbaikars and for this country," he added.
For Indian cricket fans, however, the focus was on the match itself, particularly with local hero Sachin Tendulkar one century short of his 100th international ton in what is likely to be his last World Cup match.
"The terror attacks are all in the past," said Ramesh Mishra, 22, as he tried to catch a glimpse of the Sri Lanka team training at the stadium on Thursday. "Nobody is talking about it," he told AFP.
Aleena Qureshi, a 20-year-old student, agreed. "It's all about Sachin. This is bigger than any other game."
Bhavesh Parmar, 32, said he could not think of a better place to play the final than in India's most vibrant and cosmopolitan city.
"The heart of India is Mumbai," he said. "That's the reason the final is in Mumbai. It's very positive for the city. It's going to be electrifying."
on Thursday, March 31, 2011
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has landed Rs 45 crore ($10 million) bonanza with the Indian cabinet on Thursday exempting the income earned during the World Cup from tax.
At a meeting presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the cabinet approved the finance ministry's proposal to exempt the 2011 World Cup from income tax.
"The financial implication will be nearly Rs45 crore," the finance ministry said in a statement.
The cabinet had approved a proposal in 2005 to amend the Income Tax Act, 1961, to exempt the income of both residents and non-residents arising from an international sporting event conducted in India.
At a meeting presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the cabinet approved the finance ministry's proposal to exempt the 2011 World Cup from income tax.
"The financial implication will be nearly Rs45 crore," the finance ministry said in a statement.
The cabinet had approved a proposal in 2005 to amend the Income Tax Act, 1961, to exempt the income of both residents and non-residents arising from an international sporting event conducted in India.
Sri Lanka were sweating over the World Cup final fitness of Muttiah Muralitharan and Angelo Mathews on Thursday as 37-year-old seamer Chaminda Vaas and Suraj Randiv were called-up as cover.
"Chaminda Vaas and Suraj Randiv will be included in the Sri Lankan squad for the World Cup final as cover for the injured (Muttiah) Muralitharan and (Angelo) Mathews," Sri Lanka Cricket said in a statement.
Vaas, 37 and Randiv, 26, were due to fly out to Mumbai later Thursday ahead of Saturday's title match against India.
Muralitharan, who turns 39 next month, has played through the six-week tournament despite suffering hamstring and groin injuries, a side strain and a troublesome knee.
But coach Trevor Bayliss insisted on Thursday that Muralitharan, who will retire after Saturday's final, will play against India.
"Chances are good that Murali will play," said Bayliss. "He completed 10 overs in the semi-final, and such is the character of the man that he will play even with discomfort."
All-rounder Mathews, 23, picked up a right-side strain while fielding during Tuesday's semi-final win against New Zealand.
Sri Lanka, 1996 winners and 2007 finalists, want to win the cup for legendary spinner Muralitharan who will retire after a world record haul of 800 Test and 534 one-day wickets.
Vaas, who was part of the 1996 winning team, played his last Test in July 2009 having taken 355 wickets.
He has 400 one-day wickets but his last international was against India in August 2008 where he dismissed Yuvraj Singh for a duck.
Randiv, who made his one-day debut against India in 2009, has taken 22 ODI wickets.
He last played when Sri Lanka toured Australia for a one-day series last year.
"Chaminda Vaas and Suraj Randiv will be included in the Sri Lankan squad for the World Cup final as cover for the injured (Muttiah) Muralitharan and (Angelo) Mathews," Sri Lanka Cricket said in a statement.
Vaas, 37 and Randiv, 26, were due to fly out to Mumbai later Thursday ahead of Saturday's title match against India.
Muralitharan, who turns 39 next month, has played through the six-week tournament despite suffering hamstring and groin injuries, a side strain and a troublesome knee.
But coach Trevor Bayliss insisted on Thursday that Muralitharan, who will retire after Saturday's final, will play against India.
"Chances are good that Murali will play," said Bayliss. "He completed 10 overs in the semi-final, and such is the character of the man that he will play even with discomfort."
All-rounder Mathews, 23, picked up a right-side strain while fielding during Tuesday's semi-final win against New Zealand.
Sri Lanka, 1996 winners and 2007 finalists, want to win the cup for legendary spinner Muralitharan who will retire after a world record haul of 800 Test and 534 one-day wickets.
Vaas, who was part of the 1996 winning team, played his last Test in July 2009 having taken 355 wickets.
He has 400 one-day wickets but his last international was against India in August 2008 where he dismissed Yuvraj Singh for a duck.
Randiv, who made his one-day debut against India in 2009, has taken 22 ODI wickets.
He last played when Sri Lanka toured Australia for a one-day series last year.
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