KARACHI, March 12: Unprecedented security measures dominated the cricket fever at National Stadium Karachi (NSK) on Friday ahead of the first One-day match between arch-foes Pakistan and India which goes into live action on Saturday.
Hectic activity was witnessed during the whole day at the venue with heavy deployment of police and paramilitary Rangers in and around the stadium.
From baton-wielding policemen to gun-totting police commandos and Rangers in full military gear, the number of security officials was enormous.
While the Rangers and police were present at all entry and exit points apart from makeshift posts around the stadium, a helicopter having security officials aboard hovered over the venue for surveillance.
Rangers, assigned to take care of VVIP's security during the match, manned the main entrance of the stadium as each and every soul was made to go through bomb detectors.
Military sniffer dogs combed the stands to detect any explosive material before the deployment of police started.
Security officials claimed of having made security ahead of the explosive encounter watertight. They sounded a warning to those who dare to try to sabotage the event.
"We are fully prepared and have carried out mock exercises to meet any mishap. Be it fire, terrorism, bomb blast, suicide attack or mob attack, we are ready for any challenge," Col Wahid Khan of Elite police force, told Dawn on Friday.
So much cautious were the security men that even a Lahore- based Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official, Shoaib Habib, who came along with his family, was asked by the Rangers to leave.
The PCB official was, however, seen breaching the security steps as he continued to roam in and near the prohibited areas like cricket field along with couple of women and a kid.
India captain Saurav Ganguly and his men who arrived in the afternoon at stadium were the most sought after personalities. An army of international press photographers trying to take pictures was forced by security men to remain at "safe distance" while Indians played football before having nets.
As cricket fever is at its height, few people were seen seeking tickets, while some youths near stadium were involved in selling them in black market.
Few ticket holders, fearing tough security measures, also came to the venue to confirm the point of entry of the particular enclosure.
