Just a month before the T20 World Cup 2024 kicks off in the United States and the West Indies, there’s troubling news from the Caribbean. Cricket West Indies has reportedly received a ‘terror threat’ related to the tournament. The threat is said to originate from northern Pakistan. As a result, Cricket West Indies is ramping up security measures for the upcoming event to ensure the safety of everyone involved.
“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,” Jonny Graves, the CEO of the Cricket West Indies told Cricbuzz on Sunday.
According to the report, the security threat is linked to the Pro-Islamic State group, indicating a potential connection to extremist elements.
Security Concerns Arise Amidst Pro-Islamic State Threats to Sporting Events, Cricket West Indies CEO Provides Reassurance
“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.” The CEO of Cricket West Indies, however, has reassured all participants that security is the organization’s top concern for the event.
“We want to assure all stakeholders that 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,” said Graves.
The Daily Express reported that the threat came via the Pro-Islamic State (Daesh) group using the media outlet “Nashir Pakistan,” which is affiliated with the Islamic State group and known for propaganda. The T20 World Cup is set to happen in the West Indies and the US this year, starting from June 1st with the first match and ending on June 29th with the final.
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