ADELAIDE, Dec 15: Players and officials at the 2003 Cricket World Cup in South Africa would be protected by a series of highly stringent security measures, the tournament’s director, Ali Bacher, said Saturday.

With countries all over the world on high alert after the Sept 11 attacks on the United States, Bacher said South African officials would not be taking any chances with player safety.

Spectators would have to pass through metal detectors before entering the grounds while the crowds would be monitored by closed-circuit television.

Bodyguards would also protect players and officials, though Bacher did not say whether they would carry firearms. However it is a well-accepted fact in South Africa that security personnel are armed.

“In the history of our country in the last 10 years, for every major international rugby, soccer and cricket match, we’ve never had a security problem, and that’s a fact,” Bacher said.

“But obviously the world has changed and we do have a very high-profile security directorate in place for the 2003 World Cup.

Bacher, in Adelaide for South Africa’s first Test against Australia, said there would be no repeat of the 1999 World Cup in England when lax security arrangements allowed a series of pitch invasions that marred the tournament.

“There will be over 100 protective officers, you won’t see them, but they will make certain there are no problems for the players, umpires and spectators,” Bacher said.

Bacher also said tickets for the tournament would go on sale via the internet from July 1 on a first come-first served basis.

They would be sold in blocks, with buyers being made to purchase tickets for all of their team’s pool matches.

But prices would be relatively cheap, Bacher said, as a means of attracting more overseas visitors to South Africa.—Reuters