Commandos to protect Indian World Cup squad

A policeman speaks into his mobile phone as he stands near a computer-generated image of cricketer Yuvraj Singh in Mumbai, India, yesterday. Sixteen elite commandos who look after VIP security are being flown to the Caribbean to provide security for the Indian team at the cricket World Cup. PHOTO: AFP

Elite are being flown to the Caribbean to provide security for the Indian team at the cricket World Cup, media reports said yesterday.

Sixteen of the National Security Guards (NSG), who look after VIP security in India, will cover Rahul Dravid's side during the 48-day tournament, the reports said.

Security have in the past carried out pre-tour checks in various countries where the Indian team was due to play, but this is the first time Indian commandos will be deployed to protect the players.

"The decision, taken early this week by the government, comes after a security assessment that terror groups could target the Indian team, which was followed by a formal request from the West Indies," the Indian Express said.

An Indian security assessment said "there were chances of terror groups targeting the tournament, particularly at venues where the Indian team is slated to play," the newspaper said. "The matter was taken up with the Caribbean authorities, who felt such elaborate security cover may not be possible without assistance."

The newspaper quoted government sources as saying that West Indian officials indicated they did not have the expertise to deal with such terror threats and urged India to help "as the Indian team was identified as a prime target."

The commandos will be located in Jamaica, where India play warm-up matches, and in Trinidad, where the team's preliminary matches will be held, the paper added.

An Indian cricket board official declined to comment on the report.

Two players, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly, already have NSG cover in India following threats to their lives from militant groups.