NEW YORK, USA: Security arrangements in New York will be “elevated” for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup, especially for the highly anticipated match between India and Pakistan at Eisenhower Park in Long Island, according to Governor Kathy Hochul.
The South Asian rivals are set to clash at the Nassau County Stadium on June 9, attracting tens of thousands of cricket fans. Governor Hochul announced on Wednesday that her team has been working with federal and local law enforcement to ensure attendee safety, although there is “no credible threat at this time.”
Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder emphasized that the police department will take no chances. “When you’ve got a game and a crowd as big as this, everything is credible,” Ryder told CBS News. He noted that previous threats, including one from ISIL in Afghanistan, have led to “many, many precautions.”
Security measures will include ensuring the safety of the stadium, surrounding park, and parking areas, with 100 additional officers deployed county-wide as a precaution. “This is the largest security operation we’ve ever undertaken in this county’s history,” Ryder stated, guaranteeing that the safest place in Nassau County on June 9 will be inside the stadium.
A bulletin from the New York City Police Department echoed the importance of heightened vigilance, citing recent pro-ISIS propaganda referencing the India-Pakistan match.
This is the first time the ICC World Cup is being co-hosted by the United States and West Indies. New York will host its first game on June 3 and the last one on June 12, featuring the host nation against India.
