Patil said that there would be tight security in Mumbai and sufficient security personnel would be deployed in crowded places, railway and bus stations, vital civil and defense installations and at theaters and multiplexes. Police and paramilitary personnel will be posted at important junctions across the city. Nine extra companies of State Reserve Police Force have been requisitioned.

In view of the warning from federal intelligence agencies that terrorists might sneak into the city and carry out attacks during the match, the government has placed the army, navy and air force on a state of high alert.

According to police, maximum security will be in place at the stadium. Fans will have to pass through a three-tier security cordon. About 5,500 policemen will be deployed in and around the stadium along with five companies of the Rapid Action Force and at least 300 personnel from the Central Industrial Security Force.

Spectators entering the stadium will be frisked at eight entry points. The elite commandos of the National Security Guard Force One and Quick Response Team have been put on standby at strategic locations.

The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad and Crime Branch cops have been given special anti-terrorism tasks. They will also maintain surveillance on foreign nationals coming to watch the game and also anti-national and other suspicious people.

Apart from security personnel, a team of the National Disaster Response Force along with fire brigade and multispecialty ambulances will also be on standby at the stadium. Over 200 CCTVs, which will be monitored from a command center, have been installed in and around the stadium.

Mobile phones, flags without sticks, wallets, purses, posters and banners would be allowed inside the stadium, but not food, liquids and refreshment as these would be available in the stadium. Bags, pouches, bottles, cameras, binoculars, electronic items, fireworks, cigarettes and tobacco are banned.

Mumbai Police Commissioner Arup Patnaik has warned people who do not have tickets for the match should not linger around the stadium.

Indian TV channels reported on Friday that tickets for the match were being sold at exorbitant prices by black marketers. The going rate for a ticket worth Rs. 1,000 was Rs.150,000 (SR12,500 approximately).

A gatekeeper of the stadium was caught on a hidden camera bargaining the price with TV reporters.

Several important dignitaries are expected to arrive in Mumbai, including President Pratibha Patil of India and President Mahinda Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray questioned as to why there was no “cricket diplomacy” with Sri Lanka like with Pakistan.