Strange, indeed, are the ways of our security personnel who are supposed to protect our iconic cricketers.
Strange, indeed, are the ways of our security personnel who are supposed to "protect" our iconic cricketers.
If, at times, the security provided to ensure the safety of the lives and limbs of the superstars is taken to absurd lengths, at others abysmal lack of it defies belief.
The latest case in point was the conspicuous lack of any protection to members of the Indian team, now in Mumbai for today's inconsequential seventh and final one-day international against Ricky Ponting's series-winning team in Navi Mumbai.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni and some members of his team attended a gala ICC function at the Taj Land's End hotel on Monday evening at which details of the 2011 World Cup, to be played on the Indian sub-continent, were unveiled.
The function over, the Indian players casually strolled down the road, to which the public has unencumbered access, to the glittering Sahara Indian Sports awards function on the hotel's adjacent lawns. There wasn't a guard in sightu00a0-- neither in mufti nor in plain clothes.
The players -- India's pride and joy despite their recent disappointing performances --u00a0could have been sitting ducks for any demented screwball --u00a0and there are many around! --u00a0with evil intent.
The total lack of security for the players, a fortnight before the anniversary of last year's blood curdling 26/11 Mumbai carnage, was stupefying. It betrayed the eccentric and grossly irresponsible style of functioning of the police and security agencies.
There was a similar shocking lapse on the part of the security agencies in allowing some members of the Indian team to dodge their detail and go on a merry romp, unguarded, through the streets of Chandigarh on the eve of the recent ODI at Chandigarh on November 2.
KHALIDOSCOPE recalls a similar situation concerning security of the Sourav Ganguly-led Indian cricket team at the team's hotel at Leeds during the 2002 tour of England.
Security was beefed-up after persistent revelations and criticism by this column.
A report in yesterday's Times of India quotes a policeman, one among 100, at the Bandra-Kurla Complex, where the Sri Lankan cricket team was at nets, as saying pompously (in Marathi): "Can I tell you something?
Whatever happened at Lahore will not happen here. We will not allow that."
The reference was to the attack on the team bus carrying the Sri Lankan team to Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium last year in which eight security personnel lost their lives.
The report goes on to say about the fortress-like security provided to the Sri Lankans: "While access to the Lankans was difficult on Monday morning, it was a completely different story when a few players from the BCCI Board President's XI trained in the afternoon".
The implication is clear: that Sri Lankan lives are more precious than desi ones! Disgusting!
