Sri Lanka will deploy elite armed models to guard groups at subsequent month’s T20 World Cup, a part of enhanced safety measures with a particular emphasis on matches between perennial rivals India and Pakistan, officers have informed AFP.
The island is co-hosting the biennial cricket event with India and can maintain 20 video games between February 7 and March 8.
India and Pakistan groups will play one another not less than as soon as, of their Group A conflict within the Sri Lankan capital Colombo on February 15.
Sri Lanka has given the “highest precedence” to making sure the event runs easily and is “paying particular consideration to the India-Pakistan matches”, sports activities minister Sunil Kumara Gamage informed AFP late Wednesday.
Elite commando models, normally assigned to protect visiting heads of state, might be deployed to guard all taking part groups, police and safety officers stated.
“From the time they step out of the airport until they return to their plane, they are going to be protected by armed guards,” an official stated, asking to not be named.
Pakistan refused to play its fixtures in India on account of political hostilities, prompting the Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC) to shift its matches to impartial Sri Lanka.
Bangladesh additionally tried to have its matches moved out of India on account of safety fears, however the ICC rejected the request. An offended Bangladesh then withdrew from the event, and Scotland was drafted in as a alternative.
Pakistan has indicated that it could but boycott the occasion in solidarity with Bangladesh.
Sri Lanka maintained a studious silence all through the India-Bangladesh row.
Cricket Secretary Bandula Dissanayake informed AFP Colombo needed to keep away from being drawn into regional disputes.
“In these disputes amongst India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, we’re remaining impartial; all of those are pleasant nations,” he stated.
However he added that Sri Lanka could be keen to host future tournaments for any of the international locations if requested.
Sri Lanka has additionally used the T20 World Cup as a possibility to improve its worldwide venues.
It has commissioned new floodlights on the Singhalese Sports activities Membership, considered one of two stadiums in Colombo.
The Pallekele Stadium in Kandy was unaffected by a lethal cyclone that broken buildings within the area in November, and can host a T20 worldwide between Sri Lanka and England from Friday.
Revealed on Jan 29, 2026