Tight security for Arnos Valle field

The organisational skills of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association will be put to the test during the first Digicel One-Day International between West Indies and Pakistan scheduled for the Arnos Vale Playing Field Wednesday May 18.

Tighter than usual security measures will be in place, as directed by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB). {{more}}

Frisking with metal detectors and the searching of bags, back packs and pouches are all part of measures new to international cricket in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

In addition, the WICB has insisted that bottled drinks should not be allowed into the facility.

The regulations are an indication of what may obtain when the region hosts the 2007 Cricket World Cup.

Other territories have already had these measures instituted in the current series against South Africa.

The Windward Islands Board and the National Sports Council have been appraised of the developments.

Whilst patrons may have to endure a longer delay at the entrance, they are also warned of the apparel they choose to wear to the match.

Among the new arrangements for the Digicel series, no one will be permitted in the ground with any visible insignia of other rival telecommunications provider.

This move is aimed at preventing possible “ambush marketing” from the title sponsors’ competitors.

Apart from Digicel, Cable and Wireless and Cingular Wireless are the providers of cellular phone communications to St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Prior to Digicel’s taking over as sponsors of the West Indies Cricket team and the home series last year, Cable & Wireless had been the team’s sponsors.

Digicel signed a four-year sponsorship deal with the WICB worth US$20M in 2004.

Another “ambush marketing” countermeasure is restriction of the number of tickets sold to any one person to a maximum of three.

The May 18 match will be the sixteenth One Day International at the Arnos Vale Playing Field, and the third involving Pakistan.

This venue has been a happy hunting ground for the West Indies. Pakistan is the only team that has blemished the West Indies record on that ground, winning the 1993 encounter by 38 runs.