Security arrangements have been beefed up at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium.
The Nassau County Police Department is looking after a comprehensive operation to ensure the safety of the games held at the Long Island ground from June 3 to June 12.
This includes placing snipers at secret locations around the venue, which will host its first international match featuring Sri Lanka and South Africa on Monday (June 3).
The Eisenhower Park will stage eight matches of the showpiece tournament, including the highly-anticipated India versus Pakistan clash on June 9.
Amid the threats from pro-ISIS groups, the security measures will have SWAT teams with specialist snipers. Police officers in civilian clothing will also be operating inside the ground.
Furthermore, the four drop-in pitches are being constantly monitored on a rolling 24-hour basis by officers from the force’s narcotics division, who have been relieved of their regular duties to make sure they are not tampered with.
In the lead-up to the matches, the police force of Nassau has teamed up with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the US Department of Homeland Security, the New York Police Department, and other agencies.
“The safety and security of everyone at the event is our number one priority and we have a comprehensive and robust security plan in place,” the International Cricket Council (ICC) said in a statement to BBC Sport.
“We work closely with authorities in our host countries and continually monitor and evaluate the global landscape to ensure appropriate plans are in place to mitigate any risks identified to our event,” it added.
On the match days, the parkland adjacent to the ground will remain closed to minimise any potential threat of a drone attack. Fans will have to go through airport-style security scanners before entering the stadium.
Last week, Bruce Blakeman, the executive for Nassau County, stated that security would be “like the Super Bowl” but “on steroids.”
(With IANS Inputs)