Sri Lanka has increased security arrangements and tightened security rules for the visiting Pakistani cricket team, which is about to start a test series with Sri Lanka in Galle on Saturday, July 04, 2009. Further restrictions have been enforced at match venues to make the coming test series a smooth and enjoyable experience.
The new restrictions announced on Wednesday July 01, 2009, ban fireworks, musical bands, glass bottles and tin cans, mirrors, laser pointers, and any sharp objects from using on the playground. Also, provocative slogans and banners etc will not be allowed under the new security rules. Only the national flags of the both countries can be waved in support of the teams at the match venues. A police spokesman was reported saying, ‘we are not taking any chances.’
More than half of the Pakistani side is the same as the T20 World Cup 2009 winning team. However, Pakistani captain Younas Khan sees the event as a challenge and thinks that his side needs to leave their recent World Cup victory behind and focus on the tough assignment ahead. Currently, Sri Lanka is ranked 4th in the ICC cricket ratings while Pakistan is ranked 7th. For cricket enthusiasts, this coming series is expected to be a ‘battle between spin masters’.
