After Leeds ‘air intrusion’, World Cup organisers assure BCCI of proper security for the semi-final clash

While India thumped Sri Lanka by 7 wickets at Headingley, Leeds, on Saturday, something mysterious happened in the sky above the venue. A small unnamed plane was seen flying overhead a number of times with banners featuring political slogans related to Kashmir tailing to it. While one read ‘JUSTICE FOR KASHMIR’, another read ‘INDIA STOP GENOCIDE & FREE KASHMIR’, giving rise to speculation as well as concern over the players’ safety. The organisers of the tournament had assured foolproof security for all but the intrusion left the Indian cricket authorities concerned.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) sought clarity on the measures taken to avoid a political sloganeering fiasco at Old Trafford, Manchester, on Tuesday when India take on New Zealand in the first semi-final of the World Cup. The event’s managing director, Steve Elworthy, also a former South Africa cricketer, promised the BCCI that every step has been taken to ensure that such incidents did not happen during the high-voltage clash. A third plane was also seen flying over Headingley asking an end to mob-lynching in India.

“Jill McCracken (CWC Security Director) is meeting with the Police Gold Commander for Old Trafford on Monday, to establish his view on whether or not he is minded to prevent flights entering the airspace above Old Trafford. We will make representation in the strongest possible terms that the match is protected,” Elworthy said in a letter to the BCCI, The New Minute cited reports as saying.

“Please be aware that it was this Commander who prevented the flyover at the India vs Pakistan fixture and his team at yesterday’s match between Australia and South Africa, indicated they would be supportive of a similar approach.”

World Cup organisers in talks with various authorities

Elworthy also said that he was in contact with the aviation ministry and it was in contact with the Civil Aviation Authority and would be in talks with the transport department. He told the Indian cricket board that he would be keeping it updated about the talks that take place and also on the actions that might be taken.

On the Leeds incident, he said that just before the brief background, the World cup security team had been assured by the West Yorkshire Police that there would be no further incidents of flyovers at Headingley after a similar incident had happened during the Pakistan-Bangladesh game there on June 29. That time, it was Pakistan that was targeted as the banner tailing the aircraft read: “JUSTICE FOR #BALUCHISTAN”.