ISLAMABAD: While cricket lovers are rejoicing the arrival of the World Cup 2019 runner-up team in Pakistan for T20 and ODI series, the movement of the players between the twin cities is resulting in gridlocks in the capital.

VVIP security and protocol are being given to the visiting New Zealand team scheduled to play three T20 on Sept 17, 19 and 21 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, police officials told Dawn.

VVIP security and protocol are given to the president and prime minister of Pakistan and their counterparts from other countries during their visit. Due to the VVIP security, the movement of the team between Islamabad and Rawalpindi is kept secret.

The players move to the stadium for practice late in the afternoon and return to the hotel in the capital where they are staying after sunset, the officials. This will continue till Sept 21, they added.

During the team’s movement, a VVIP route is put in place between the hotel and the stadium.So far, diversions for the traffic have not been put in place and the timing of the team’s movement is also kept in secret for security purposes, they said.

However, a security plan for the team, including their movement, is made but it cannot be disclosed, the officials said. Issuing a diversion plan for the public for a particular time would disclose the movement of the international team.

As a result, motorists moving on Islamabad’s roads at the time of their movement remain stuck in traffic jams. Long queues of vehicles could be seen on Islamabad Expressway, Srinagar Highway, I.J. Principal Road and Murree Road. The route from the hotel to the stadium is kept completely clear for the team as per the standard operating procedure for the VVIP movement and security.

There are a few main arteries in the capital and thousands of vehicles moved on them. The closure of the roads for a few minutes result in traffic jams.

Some drivers violated traffic rules during the VVIP movements and instead of waiting for the reopening of the roads preferred turning their vehicles and move on the wrong way, the officials added.

Massive traffic jams are seen on the roads as the team’s movements take place during rush hours.

Police officers were contacted for comments but they refused to speak on record, saying it was a sensitive matter.

Director Media and Senior Superintendent of Police Dr Syed Mustafa Tanweer was also not available for comments.

Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2021