BCCI appoints security advisor for 2011 World Cup

Gearing up to co-host the ODI World Cup next year along with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, the BCCI on Tuesday appointed retired IPS officer Ranjit Kumar Das as its security advisor.

"The Board of Control for Cricket In India has appointed Mr Ranjit Kumar Das as a full-time Security Advisor," BCCI secretary N Srinivasan said in a statement.

Das has previously served as a security advisor to the Organising Committee of the Commonwealth Games to be held this year from October 3 to 14.

"A retired IPS officer from the 1970 Batch, Mr Das has served as Director - Special Protection Group (SPG) of the Hon Prime Minister of India, DG of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and Special Director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB)," the BCCI statement said.

"He also had a stint at the Indian Embassy in Washington as Liaison Officer for International Counter Terrorism efforts," it added.

Das has been awarded the Indian Police Medal for Meritorious Service and the President's Medal for Distinguished Service.

Srinivasan said an event of World Cup's magnitude requires foolproof security and the three host boards would ensure that no effort is spared.

"India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will co-host the ICC Cricket World Cup, cricket's showpiece event, early next year. The addressing of security concerns is paramount," he said.

"The preparations for the same have begun, and no effort is being spared to put together an event that will not only enhance the image of the sport, but also that of the subcontinent," he added.

The World Cup was earlier supposed to be also hosted by Pakistan but its share of matches were distributed among India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka after a terror attack in Lahore that targetted the visitng Sri Lankan team.