ICC requests state home depart to reduce security charges

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has requested the state home department of Maharashtra for concession in charges levied for security provided by the state police for the upcoming World Cup cricket matches.

The government has assured the ICC that it will not treat these matches on a par with IPL games.

In a meeting on Wednesday, ICC officials requested home minister R.R. Patil to reduce the fees for security provided inside the stadium.

They requested the department to not charge for bandobast along the approach roads.

Mumbai Police had billed Rs.11 lakh to Mumbai Cricket Association for a one-day match held at Wankhede stadium two years ago, before it was closed for a makeover.

?World Cup matches cannot be treated on a par with the other one-day matches played with commercial interests in mind. We have requested the government for concessions,? said Ratnakar Shetty, tournament director, ICC.

The home department has suggested making an alternative arrangement for parking at Azad Maidan or of using the parking lots at Inox theatre and other places in Nariman Point.

Three matches are scheduled to be played at Wankhede, including the final match on April 2, while Vidarbha Cricket Association is hosting four matches at its stadium in Nagpur.