The upcoming iteration of the ICC T20 World Cup faces a security peril, with the Caribbean islands being alerted to terror concerns. Nonetheless, Cricket West Indies (CWI) has reassured that it is implementing all requisite security measures to safeguard all involved.
"We collaborate closely with authorities in the host nations and cities, continually assessing the global landscape to ensure appropriate strategies are in place to mitigate identified risks to our event," stated CWI chief executive Jonny Graves to cricket website Cricbuzz on Sunday.
"We want to affirm all stakeholders that the safety and security of everyone at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup is our utmost priority, and we have a comprehensive and sturdy security blueprint in operation," Graves supplemented.
According to Cricbuzz, the security notification disseminated to the Caribbean islands notes, "Pro-Islamic State (IS) media sources have initiated campaigns inciting violence against sporting events, including video messages from the Afghanistan-Pakistan branch, ISKhorasan (IS-K), spotlighting assaults in various nations and calling on supporters to join the battlefield in their homelands."
Trinidad's Daily Express cited the island's prime minister, Keith Rowley, affirming that security agencies are actively countering the threat. Regional security officials in Barbados are also vigilant regarding potential risks to the ICC event.
Reports indicate that intelligence of a potential threat to the World Cup was received via the Pro-Islamic State (Daesh) media group "Nashir Pakistan." According to Daily Express, Nashir-e Pakistan is a propaganda channel affiliated with the Islamic State group.
However, no such terror alerts were issued for cities in the USA—Florida, New York, and Texas—where matches will also be hosted during the tournament.
The T20 World Cup is slated to transpire in the West Indies and the USA from June 1 to 29.
