The Cricket Club of India (CCI) on Monday decided to open its gates to fans after the Mumbai Police agreed to provide security to Brabourne Stadium for the warm-up match between India A and England on Tuesday. The game is being billed as Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s last game as India captain.
A BCCI insider and a CCI official confirmed that the police will provide security cover, although they refused to divulge the amount of the commercial arrangement.
Senior Mumbai Police officials told The Hindu that it had been made clear to the CCI that the full amount of ₹60 lakh would be charged for providing bandobast both inside and outside the stadium. “A letter to the effect has already been submitted to the CCI,” a senior officer said. According to officials, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone I) Manoj Kumar Sharma held one more meeting with CCI officials on Monday evening to review the arrangements and to finalise the details of the deployment. Police officials were also seen taking stock of the stadium while the two teams went through their training routines.
Mr. Sharma said, “We will have full bandobast both inside and outside the stadium, with nearly 400 personnel from the State Reserve Police Force and the local arms unit. Parking of vehicles will be banned around the stadium, and spectators will be permitted through gates Seven, Eight and Nine.”
The CCI has banned any baggage or bottles inside the stadium, and no one will be allowed to re-enter in case they have to exit for any reason whatsoever. The three gates will be open only from noon to 3:00 p.m., as there are a limited number of seats, officers said.
The police have also taken into account the fact that the limited seats and restricted entry might lead to resentment among those who are unable to enter, and hence the Marine Drive police will be deploying mobile patrolling units around the stadium to neutralise any potential law and order problems.
The traffic police will also be deploying personnel to ensure smooth movement of traffic around the stadium.
