Sri Lanka will deploy elite armed units to protect teams at next month's T20 World Cup, part of enhanced security measures with a special emphasis on matches between perennial rivals India and Pakistan, officials have told AFP.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The island is co-hosting the biennial cricket tournament with India and will hold 20 games between February 7 and March 8.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Indian and Pakistani teams will play each other at least once, in their Group A clash in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo on February 15.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Cricket matches have long been a stage for expressing political tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours, which fought a four-day border conflict last year.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Sri Lanka has given the "highest priority" to ensuring the tournament runs smoothly and is "paying special attention to the India-Pakistan matches", sports minister Sunil Kumara Gamage told AFP late Wednesday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Elite commando units, usually assigned to guard visiting heads of state, will be deployed to protect all participating teams, police and security officials said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"From the time they step out of the airport till they return to their aircraft, they will be protected by armed guards," an official said, asking not to be named.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pakistan refused to play their fixtures in India due to political hostilities, prompting the International Cricket Council (ICC) to shift their matches to neutral Sri Lanka.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Bangladesh also tried to have their matches moved out of India due to security fears, but the ICC rejected the request.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
An angry Bangladesh then withdrew from the tournament, and Scotland were drafted in as their replacement.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pakistan has indicated that it may yet boycott the event in solidarity with Bangladesh.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Sri Lanka maintained a studious silence throughout the India-Bangladesh row.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Cricket Secretary Bandula Dissanayake told AFP Colombo wanted to avoid being drawn into regional disputes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"In these disputes among India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, we are remaining neutral, all of these are friendly nations," he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But he added that Sri Lanka would be willing to host future tournaments for any of the countries if asked.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Sri Lanka has also used the T20 World Cup as an opportunity to upgrade its international venues.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
It has commissioned new floodlights at the Singhalese Sports Club, one of two stadiums in Colombo.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Pallekele Stadium in Kandy was unaffected by a deadly cyclone that damaged buildings in the region in November, and will host a T20 international between Sri Lanka and England from Friday.<\/p>\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Sri-Lanka-boosts-T20-World-Cup-security-with-eye-on-India\u2013Pakistan-games.jpeg", "alt_img": "T20 World Cup 2026 India vs Pakistan", "alt_title": "Sri Lanka boosts T20 World Cup security with eye on India\u2013Pakistan games", "image1": null, "video": null, "seo_title": "Sri Lanka boosts T20 World Cup security with eye on India\u2013Pakistan games On Cricketnmore", "seo_desc": "Sri Lanka will deploy elite armed commando units to protect teams during the T20 World Cup next month, with heightened security for India-Pakistan matches as the island co-hosts the tournament with India.", "seo_keywords": "ICC T20 World Cup 2026, India Vs Pakistan", "tag": null, "tagging": "ICC T20 World Cup 2026,India Vs Pakistan,", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": null, "slug": "sri-lanka-boosts-t20-world-cup-security-with-eye-on-indiapakistan-games", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "1", "ians_date": null, "ians_time": null, "server_time": null, "trash": "0", "view_count": "464", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "1", "created": "2026-01-29 12:30:23", "updated": "2026-01-29 12:30:23", "img_from": "Image Source: Google", "img_source": null, "schedule_publish": null, "news_keywords": "ICC T20 World Cup 2026, India Vs Pakistan", "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "0", "google_feed": "0", "read_more": "1", "posted_by": "19", "jio_date": "2026-01-29 12:30:23", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "1", "breaking_news": "1", "google_date": null, "featured": "0", "pred_match_id": "Select", "article_content_type": null, "england_cricket": "0", "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/cricket-news\/sri-lanka-boosts-t20-world-cup-security-with-eye-on-indiapakistan-games-187106" }