17 April 2005	Sunday	07 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1426

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NEW DELHI, April 16: Chris Board, the ICC match referee, and neutral umpire Rudi Koertzen were on Saturday at receiving end of high security arrangements at the Ferozeshah Kotla stadium as they were stopped from entering the ground in the afternoon.

Broad and Koertzen, who arrived at the stadium to have a look at the ground, were stopped by security officials at gate and did not allow them to enter the stadium premises till Delhi and District Cricket Association officials intervened and took them inside.

Even the media needed a lot of persuasion skills and even had to indulge in heated discussions with authorities as they were initially not allowed to enter the stadium.

A three-layer security ring has been thrown around the stadium, the venue for sixth and final One-day International which will be witnessed by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairman Sonia Gandhi and former premier Atal Bihari Vajpayee among others

Meanwhile, the venue was turned into a virtual fortress with thousands of policemen taking positions.

Snipers and commandos from Delhi police, NSG and ITBP have been deployed at vantage positions in and around the ground and all entrances to it have been sealed.

Security personnel have sanitised cricket ground and anti-sabotage checks are being conducted continuously at the ground which has been readied for high-profile match.

Security personnel have also been deployed along the route up to the ground with sharp-shooters taking positions on rooftops of buildings flanking the road.

Taj hotel, where President Musharraf is staying along with his entourage, has also been fortified with deployment of hordes of security personnel, including those in plain clothes, swarming the premises.

Squads of sniffer dogs were making frequent rounds at both the venues several times to leave nothing to chance.

Barricades have been set up along the route to Kotla and Taj hotel, and intensified patrolling by Police Control Room (PCR) vehicles is being undertaken around these places.

As part of heightened security for high profile one-dayer, spectators would not be allowed to carry any objects inside stadium during the match.

“Spectators will not be permitted to carry anything inside the stadium including binoculars, transistors, cell phones, cameras, hand bags, water bottles, or any other container,” a Delhi police spokesman said. “This is being done for convenience and security of spectators.”

The Delhi police advised spectators to reach the stadium early and gain entry well before 8.00 am, an hour before scheduled start of play.—Agencies