Ahmedabad: Cricket fans carry 500-foot long tricolour, miniature trophy ahead of finals

Ahmedabad: As the Indian Cricket Team is all set to lock horns in the pinnacle clash of the Cricket World Cup 2023 with five-time champions Australia at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, cricket fans have been gearing up all across the nation for the much-awaited encounter. Cricket fans in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad carried a 500-foot-long tricolour along with a miniature version of the World Cup trophy ahead of the finals.

#WATCH | Cricket fans in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, carry a 500-feet long tricolour along with a miniature version of the World Cup trophy ahead of the finals against Australia tomorrow, November 19 pic.twitter.com/MLfowliHcV

— ANI (@ANI)

Over 1.40 lakh spectators are expected to throng the stadium, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, and Union Home Minister of India Amit Shah, among others. Marles, who is also Australia's defence minister, and Foreign Minister Penny Wong are visiting India to co-chair the second edition of the "2+2" ministerial dialogue along with their Indian counterparts on Monday.

Other dignitaries who are expected to attend the final match at the stadium include US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti, Minister for Home Affairs and Law of Singapore K. Shanmugam, Tamil Nadu Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, and Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma.

Security beefed up in Ahmedabad 

More than 6,000 security personnel will be deployed in Ahmedabad city and the Narendra Modi stadium during the World Cup final between mighty India and Australia on November 19, a senior police official said on Saturday.

Addressing a press conference, Ahmedabad Commissioner of Police GS Malik said elaborate security arrangements, with personnel from Gujarat police, the Rapid Action Force (RAF), home guards, and others, have been made keeping in mind the movement of over one lakh spectators and the presence of several dignitaries at the stadium.

“Over 6,000 police personnel will be deployed to ensure that the mega event passes off without any trouble. Of these 6,000 personnel, nearly 3,000 will be stationed inside the stadium, while others will be deployed to guard other key locations, such as hotels where players and other dignitaries are staying,” said Malik.

(with agency inputs)