At least 63 platoons of police, 300 officers, four quick reaction teams (QRTs) and two anti-terrorist squads (ATSs) will be deployed in Cuttack city for Monday’s India-South Africa T-20 match to be played at the Barabati Stadium here. Besides, nearly 150 close-circuit TV cameras will be installed at vantage points, including all entry points of the stadium to keep tab on the situation during the match.
This was informed by the twin city police commissioner RP Sharma here on Saturday after briefing the police force to be deployed for the first T-20 international cricket match scheduled on October 5. Similarly, emphasis has been made on the traffic management of the city on the match day.
Meanwhile, players of both the teams arrived at Bhubaneswar on Saturday evening to a rousing welcome. The players will come to Cuttack stadium under heavy escort on Sunday for net practice. The stadium is all set to host a successful match with its outfield and pitch well prepared.
However, few showers of rains on Friday and Saturday in Cuttack city have put the match organisers OCA and enthusiastic cricket lovers in a tizzy hoping that rains do not play a spoilsport on Monday.
Director of Bhubaneswar Met Centre S C Sahu on Saturday said an upper cyclonic circulation exists over North Andhra Pradesh, South Odisha and adjoining parts of West Bengal. “Under this system, sporadic rainfall will occur in parts of Odisha for next three days,” Sahu said.