Sports Desk: The Caribbean authorities have received information about the threat of an attack on the West Indies during the T20 World Cup. The terrorist group Islamic State (Daesh) has threatened this attack on social media, Caricom Impact said. IMPACS, under the intergovernmental alliance of CARICOM Caribbean island nations, deals with crime and security in the region.
The West Indies and the United States will jointly host the T20 World Cup from June 1 to 29. In this tournament of 20 teams, most of the matches, including the finals and semi-finals, will be held in six countries in the Caribbean region. Cricket West Indies (CWI) said the organizers have taken elaborate security measures to prevent any possible attack.
CBC (Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation) of Barbados first brought the news of the threat of terrorist groups to the T20 World Cup. According to the news last Friday, the pro-Islamic State (Daesh) media group ‘Nashir Pakistan’ has released posters threatening to attack the West Indies during the T20 World Cup through Telegram and RocketChat channels, which caught the attention of CARICOM IMPACTS.
The Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Keith Rowley, chairs CARICOM’s Prime Ministerial Subcommittee on Cricket. When asked by Trinidad’s Daily Express for his response to the threat of attacks, Rowley said, “We are vigilant at the local and regional level to mitigate these threats.” Our security agencies are working individually and jointly to ensure the safety and security of the people visiting the country and the venue.
Among the Caribbean countries, 39 World Cup matches will be played in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and Grenada, and Trinidad and Tobago. These include the final in Barbados and two semi-finals in Trinidad and Guyana.
Indian media outlet Cricbuzz contacted Cricket West Indies about the threat of an IS attack. CW CEO Jonny Graves also emphasized security, saying, ‘We are working closely with the host country and city authorities and regularly monitor and assess the global situation to ensure appropriate plans are in place to mitigate any risks to the tournament. We want to assure all partners that ensuring everyone’s safety and security at the T20 World Cup is our top priority. There is a detailed and strong security plan in this regard.
When Cricbuzz contacted the ICC, the governing body of cricket said that CW’s statement was our statement. Apart from the West Indies, this year’s T20 World Cup will be held in New York, Florida, and Texas. USA-Canada will play the opening match on June 1 in New York. The title decider will be played in Barbados on June 29.
