ABU DHABI, April 18: The VVIP movement, now a familiar sight when Pakistan and India play, created problems for the VIPs, media personnel and the spectators who thronged to witness the first ICC-sanctioned One-day International at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
With Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf especially flown in to witness the ground-breaking ODI at the cricket’s newest cricket venue, the security, as expected was too tight to stomach for those who came to the stadium not only from other parts of the UAE but from Pakistan and India.
Even ICC chief, Ehsan Mani, had to wait outside the stadium gate for a long time under oppressive heat with temperatures hovering under 38 degree centigrade while for journalists and spectators the wait was much longer despite the fact that security personnel considering the VVIP movement were courteous and helpful.
Besides the VVIP movement, the organisers appeared to be overawed by the occasion and committed elementary mistakes although they tried their best to provide top possible facilities at this beautiful multi-million dollar stadium.