Tight security for first ODI at Jamshedpur

JAMSHEDPUR: Security promises to be "tighter" than the newly-laid pitch for the opening one-day match between India and West Indies at the Keenan Stadium here.
The "Test match" played on the re-laid wicket on Monday left experts worried. Many are keeping their fingers crossed whether the new surface would turn out a good one-day track or not. India take on West Indies on November 6.
"There’s little bounce in the wicket.An ideal one-day track should be hard and bouncy wicket that offers tons of runs," points out Saba Karim. He was in the Steel City for the trial match for the Bihar Ranji side.
Not only there’s "little" bounce. Players rue "cracks" which have already surfaced and "ball has been slow to come to the bat." There is also "a good deal of moisture" in the track.
Karim is, however, hopeful the pitch would play well for the India-West Indies match. "The first match on the new surface is being played today. There’s still eight more days. The condition will improve with soiling, rolling and leveling of the new pitch."
Even Bihar Cricket Association secretary, B N Singh, exudes confidence that the re-laid track would behave positively. "We have time to perfect the track. It’ll be better than one we saw at Mumbai and Chennai." The Keenan wicket was re-laid three months ago. Experts say more "matches and time" was needed before the new wicket starts giving desired results.
Unlike the wicket, the police are leaving no stone unturned to ensure there isn’t any crack in the security arrangement for the one-day match.
Over one thousand police personnel including mounted police and four companies of Jharkhand Military Police would be pressed into service.
"Sniffer dogs will used at the stadium as well as the hotel where the players would be staying," the district superintendent of police (SP) Arun Uraon informed.
"The players would be escorted from Ranchi. They will take a special bus to come to Jamshedpur." The police also have set up a special cell to check black marketing of tickets.
"We have instructed the BCA to ensure there’s no duplication of tickets," the SP told newsmen after his meeting with BAC authorities.