According to details, the security has been out on high alert at the much-anticipated Eden Gardens stadium where later today, Pakistan and India will face off in a much-awaited contest. Commandos were also deployed at the venue to keep in check any untoward activity and guarantee the security of the players.
Pakistan’s cricket team will arrive at the venue by four in the afternoon and the match is scheduled to commence at seven pm. Celebrities such as PTI chairman Imran Khan, Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan, Pakistani politician Sheikh Rasheed, former Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Pakistan’s Shafqat Amanat Ali will witness the match live.
“The anti-sabotage squad will be constantly monitoring the stadium to prevent any kind of sabotage. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) will be employed for surveillance,” said a city police officer.
“There will be at least three levels of frisking and checking of the spectators so the stadium gates will be opened three hours prior to the match,” said the police official. “In coordination with cricket officials, our special teams have been on the job since Tuesday conducting searches and special checks across the city to prevent betting and black marketing of tickets,” he added.
Before the match commences, Shafqat Amanat Ali will sing Pakistan’s national anthem while India’s will be sung by Amitabh Bachchan. PTI chairman Imran Khan specially departed for India to speak to Pakistan team skipper Shahid Afridi and advise the team on how to beat India.
The venue was shifted to Kolkata from Dharamsala after the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh had refused to grant security to the Pakistani team.
