With less than a month left before the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup kicks off, Cricket West Indies (CWI) is facing a potential terror threat to the global event it is co-hosting with the USA. According to media reports from the Caribbean islands, the region has received terror alerts for the T20 showpiece, set to begin on June 1.
“Pro-Islamic State (IS) media sources have launched campaigns inciting violence against sporting events, which included video messages from the Afghanistan-Pakistan branch, ISKhorasan (IS-K) which highlighted assaults in numerous countries and urged supporters to join the battlefield in their countries,” reads the security alert.
The Twenty20 World Cup is set to occur in the West Indies and the US from June 1 to 29.
Authorities closely monitoring situation
A report in Trinidad’s Daily Express quoted Prime Minister Keith Rowley as saying that Caricom and security agencies are collaborating to address the threat to the World Cup. Additionally, it’s been reported that regional security officials in Barbados are monitoring potential threats to the ICC event.
“The Barbados regional security officials are monitoring potential threats to the ICC event” as well as that “intelligence of a potential threat to the World Cup has been received through Pro-Islamic State (Daesh) through the media group ‘Nashir Pakistan’,” the article stated.
Intelligence of a potential threat to the World Cup has been received through Pro-Islamic State (Daesh) via the media group “Nashir Pakistan.” Nashir-e Pakistan is an Islamic State group-affiliated propaganda channel, as per Daily Express.
ICC, West Indies Board address security threat issue
While speaking on the issue, ICC stated, “We work closely with authorities in the host countries and cities, and continually monitor and evaluate the global landscape to ensure appropriate plans are in place to mitigate any risks identified to our event.”
The West Indies Board reassured, “We want to assure all stakeholders that the safety and security of everyone at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is our number one priority and we have a comprehensive and robust security plan in place.”
T20 World Cup 2024
The T20 World Cup matches in the West Indies are scheduled to be held across six venues, including Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago.
Additionally, three venues in the USA, including New York, Florida, and Dallas, will host games. However, there have been no threats to the matches in the USA. Twenty nations will participate in the competition, scheduled from June 1 to June 29. A total of 55 T20Is will be played during the tournament, with England being the defending champions.