Waugh welcomes new security measures

NOTTINGHAM, JUNE 19. Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh has welcomed practical moves to prevent the sort of crowd invasion that left a steward with two broken ribs on Sunday. He hoped they would work. The new moves provide that the trespassers will be arrested and plastic fences used to stop charging spectators during the day/night One-day game at Trent Bridge.

``It has been very impressive so far,'' Waugh said on Monday after attending a security meeting at Trent Bridge with team manager Steve Bernard. ``We have to wait and see how they work out. I think it is a good step in the right direction. ''I raised concerns two years ago when we arrived for the World Cup and I did so again this time. But it has fallen on deaf ears. It is nice to know finally they're doing something about it.``

The stringent measures have been taken in the wake of a second pitch invasion that forced England skipper Alec Stewart to make the unprecedented move to concede the match to Pakistan when the tourists were four short of winning at Headingley on Sunday.

Charging spectators left behind a steward who suffered two broken ribs and a damaged spleen while trying to stop fans stealing the stumps and Stewart later said he acted in the best interest of players' and umpires' safety.

The tournament opener between England and Pakistan at Edgbaston was also marred by a crowd invasion. Only after a plea by Pakistan skipper Waqar Younis, the game resumed after a 30- minute delay enabling the tourists to capture the last home side wicket and seal victory by 108 runs.

''It is a professional sport and it is not safe for players to have people running all over,`` Waugh said.

Waugh said he had not seen the incident at Headingley but heard that what had happened was nasty. ''The other day in Cardiff I saw a white kid getting beaten up by a bunch of Pakistan supporters,`` the Australian captain said. ''No one bothered to do anything about it. You trust the people to do the right thing.`` Waugh warned he would not hesitate to take his team off the field if he foresaw the threat of a crowd invasion.

Bernard said he would request the local authorities to raise the plastic fences if he at any point felt the player safety would be compromised.

Other actions taken include printing of special posters in Urdu and English which were already in display at the venue on the eve of the game. There will also be announcements appealing for cooperation in both Urdu and English.

New Sports Minister Richard Caborn, on Monday, began moves to outlaw pitch invasions by cricket fans. Unlike in soccer, cricket fans can invade pitches with impunity but events in Leeds have altered that policy.

''It is not just an English issue, it is an international one and we will have to work with the ICC (International Cricket Council),`` Caborn said. ''We have to make sure we have good protection for both the players and officials.``

- AFP

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