Pakistan take massive security measures for Australia ODIs [Source: AFP]Pakistan has rolled out unprecedented security measures for the upcoming Australia cricket series, driven by a heightened terror threat.For the first time, a special Security and Discipline Unit has been formed not just to safeguard the visiting team but to ensure the protection of police personnel themselves during the high-profile ODI match on May 30 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. More than 5,000 officers will be deployed for the game, while over 3,500 police and 300 traffic personnel are already securing practice sessions. With a cordon around police movements, biometric attendance checks, and armed escorts, the arrangements underscore the gravity of the security situation as Pakistan strives to host international cricket without incident. Special Unit called in to Shield the Protectors A newly established Security and Discipline Unit will focus entirely on the safety of the police force. It has been split into four zones, each under the command of Inspector Luqman Pasha, assisted by ASI Mohammad Irfan, with two constables per zone. The unit will maintain a tight cordon around police personnel while they are transported, assembled, or moving to their duty points.Also Read- Babar Azam, Salman Ali Agha In Firing Line As Sarfaraz Ahmed Unleashes Hell In Pakistan Dressing RoomBiometric attendance will be strictly monitored, and any officer arriving late or marked absent will be immediately reported to the city police officer, the SSP operations, and the central control room.Police vehicles are to be parked only in secure areas, never left unattended, and armed gunmen will guard officers as they are dropped at their positions. The unit reports directly to the SSP operations.Massive Deployment and Minute-by-Minute Monitoring More than 3,500 police and 300 traffic personnel have been mobilised for the practice sessions alone, with a separate, even larger plan of over 5,000 officers ready for the first ODI. Senior officers are physically present on the field during practice, checking and briefing the security force. Meanwhile, police station mobiles, and the specialist Elite and Dolphin Squads patrol continuously around the stadium perimeter. For the second day of the five-day practice window, city police chief Syed Khalid Mahmood Hamdani ordered effective security and traffic arrangements, resulting in the heavy deployment. Additional personnel have been stationed at public places, and special surveillance is being conducted at bus stands and hotels. “In light of the current security situation and terrorist attacks, it is critical to make police force security foolproof during their movements by closely adhering to SOP,” a senior police officer said, adding the police have been on high alert, as quoted by Dawn. Australian Team Inspects Readiness in PakistanAn advanced security team from Australia, which had already arrived in Islamabad, visited the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium to review the arrangements firsthand. Their inspection, coupled with the unprecedented layer of protection for local law enforcement, reflects the seriousness with which both nations are treating the terror risk. The extensive cordoning, biometric accountability, and armed escorts during police transportation have never been part of standard match-day planning before, signalling just how much the threat perception has changed. Conclusion: Should Pakistan Host Series Amid The Threat?What does Soumyajit think?Hosting Australia under such a severe terror cloud is a decision marred with risk, but Pakistan is somehow right to go ahead with the series. Cancelling or relocating the matches would reward the very forces trying to isolate the country and rob its people of the rare chance to see top-tier cricket at home. The recently called-up security architecture, especially the unit dedicated to protecting police officers, demonstrates that the authorities are not taking the danger lightly. If the state can sustain this level of threat and enforce standard operating procedures, the series can be a statement of resilience rather than a gamble. Ultimately, sport must not surrender to fear, and Pakistan’s willingness to adapt with never-before-seen measures shows a commitment to that principle as the first match gets underway from May 30 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Also Read- Ajinkya Rahane Among 2 Possible Casualties At KKR After IPL Elimination
