Report | Police employ snipers to counter security threats at T20 World Cup games in New York

The temporary stadium built at Eisenhower Park is slated to host eight group stage matches between June 3 and June 12, beginning with a clash between Sri Lanka and South Africa and headlined by the top-billing India-Pakistan encounter on June 9. The ground's stands will hold 34,000 people and are expected to be sold out for several encounters in the first ever T20 World Cup to be held in the Americas.

A week before the tournament got underway, posters floated on social media threatened terrorist attacks at the venue by affiliates of the middle-east based group ISIS, with a particular focus on the Indo-Pak match. As a result, SWAT teams could be seen in action when South Africa and Sri Lanka take to the turf on the morning of June 3 alongside plain clothes police officers and police snipers at covert buildings around the park. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the US Department Of Homeland Security have also been included into the fold for the high-profile tournament.

‌"The safety and security of everyone at the event is our number one priority and we have a comprehensive and robust security plan in place," ICC was quoted saying by BBC Sport.

"We work closely with authorities in our host countries and continually monitor and evaluate the global landscape to ensure appropriate plans are in place to mitigate any risks identified to our event."

Additional security measures would include shutting off Eisenhower Park to citizens for the duration of the World Cup and increased intensity of security checks for fans attending the matches.