Security not an issue

World Cup 2011

Security not an issue - Lorgat

Haroon Lorgat

Haroon Lorgat, chief executive of the ICC, is confident that security in Bangladesh is up to the task of policing the country's remaining World Cup matches, despite the stoning of the West Indies team bus on Friday. "I am satisfied that the security is firm enough to withstand that sort of issue," Lorgat said at a press conference in Chennai. "The police that were present there have made certain arrests."

Angry Bangladesh fans, whose team was bowled outfor 58, the lowest total by a Full Member at a World Cup, threw stones at both team buses, cracking two of the West Indian team buses windows. None of the players were injured. Lorgat played down the incident, calling it "minor," and explained why it was not as serious as had been originally reported. "It was a few individuals who threw pebbles at the bus, and they were pebbles."

Bangladesh has hosted three matches in the tournament so far, as well as the opening ceremony, and Friday was the first incident of any security breach. Bangladesh lost their tournament opener against India by 87 runs but there was no sign of aggression from the home fans after that. They had since leapfrogged the West Indies into eighth position on the ODI rankings, and the home crowd may have expected their team to beat the West Indies as proof of their loftier position. Lorgat thinks that may have caused the chaos. "It was, I guess, disappointed fans at the result of their home team being defeated so convincingly by the visitors."

England, who pulled out of a match in the 2003 World Cup against Zimbabwe because of security concerns, are the next team due to travel to Bangladesh. Netherlands and South Africa are also scheduled to play their group stages in Bangladesh and there were some rumours swirling that the teams may not want to go to the country and the matches would have to be moved. Lorgat stamped out any such possibility. "We have a very robust security plan in place and I am convinced that the tournament is going to continue as scheduled."

He did not rule out the possibility of moving games, but said that Friday's incident was not enough to merit doing so. "We would not move a game lightly, but it is not something that we would discount. I don't believe that particular incident justifies moving the game." Bangladesh will host five more World Cup matches, including two quarter-finals.