Govt further tightens security for Australians

New Delhi:

In the wake of another blast in the national capital, the Union Home Ministry on Sunday issued advisories to states and union territories to tighten security measures for the visiting Australian cricket team in India for a four-Test series.

The advisory was issued by the Ministry after Sharad Pawar, who was replaced by Shashank Manohar as the BCCI Chief on Saturday, spoke to Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta last night, asking him to take necessary steps to ensure fool-proof security for the Australian team, official sources said.

The advisory was issued to Delhi, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Chandigarh which would be hosting the cricket Test and practice matches, they said.

Among the security measures to be put in place were securing the hotel where the visitors would be staying. The entire team would be provided with escorts and pilot vehicles, they added.

"Every time a foreign cricket team visits India, appropriate security arrangements are made. This time also concerned authorities will make all necessary arrangements.

"If there is any particular request anywhere, that also will be looked into and taken care of," Home Ministry had said in a statement earlier this week.

The Australian cricket team arrived in the country on Monday to play four Tests at Bangalore, Mohali, Delhi and Nagpur. The first match will begin on October nine.

Besides this, the visiting team would play practice matches at Jaipur and Hyderabad.