The upcoming T20 World Cup, set to be co-hosted by the USA and West Indies, has received a terror threat, according to Trinidad’s Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley. He reassured the public that extra measures are being taken to ensure safety and that security preparations are being intensified to mitigate the risk.
The T20 World Cup, featuring 20 teams, including India, is scheduled to begin on June 1. The threat, as reported by media sources, appears to be specific to the West Indies, which will host most of the games, including the entire Super 8 stage, along with the semifinals and the final on June 29.
Trinidad’s Prime Minister acknowledges the threat to T20 World Cup
Dr. Rowley, quoted by the ‘Trinidad Daily Express,’ acknowledged the constant danger of terrorism in the modern world. He remarked, “Unfortunately, the threat of terrorism in its many and varied expressions is an ever-present danger in the world of the 21st century.” Though he did not name a specific group, reports suggest that the Islamic State issued the threat through its propaganda channels.
In response to the threat, Rowley stated that all host countries are increasing their focus on national security and emergency response to address any potential risks. “It is against this backdrop that all nations, like our region, when hosting large or vulnerable gatherings, make an extra effort in national security preparations and response readiness to take seriously, all threats, expressed or implied,” he added.
Dr. Rowley also noted that the event, spread across nine venues—six in the West Indies and three in the USA—will be under close surveillance throughout its duration. He acknowledged the difficulty of completely eliminating risks but assured the public that security and intelligence agencies are working tirelessly to ensure safety. “Given the fact that bad actors can choose to misbehave in any way possible, it makes it virtually impossible to completely seal off all opportunities,” he said.
“However, in order to ameliorate these dangers, we at the local and regional levels have remained alert to many threats and singularly or together have our intelligence and other security agencies working to protect the population in countries and at venues throughout the tournament,” he added.
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Cricket West Indies taking extra measures for the threat
The West Indies venues for the World Cup include Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago. In the USA, matches will be played in Florida, New York, and Texas. Notably, New York will host the marquee India-Pakistan clash on June 9.
In response to the security concerns, Cricket West Indies CEO Jonny Graves assured that the tournament’s safety is the top priority. He stated, “We work closely with authorities in the host countries and cities, and continually monitor and evaluate the global landscape to ensure appropriate plans are in place to mitigate any risks identified to our event.” Graves further noted that a comprehensive security plan is in place to ensure the safety of all stakeholders involved in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
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