BCCI, CA officials review security in Hyderabad

BCCI and Cricket Australia officials reviewed the security arrangements in Hyderabad and met the city's police commissioner ahead of the second cricket Test between India and Australia, scheduled to be held from March 2-5.

Security has been beefed up in the wake of last Thursday's terror attacks in the city, which has been rocked by serial blasts.

Senior board officials along with the security head of Cricket Australia assessed the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, the venue for the match, though Hyderabad Cricket Association secretary M V Sridhar called it a routine affair.

Ratnakar Shetty, the BCCI general manager – cricket development, came from Mumbai for the meeting.

The HCA official said Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy "assured them of full security". "He said he would not compromise on anything. He assured us full support," Sridhar told reporters.

He also added that if the Australians have any specific demands, the host association will consider them.

Terror struck the city killing 12 people and injuring 84 others last Thursday evening when two powerful near simultaneous blasts ripped through a crowded area close to a cluster of bus stands in Dilsukhnagar area.

The blasts triggered by Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) tied to two took place in the peak hour at two sites 100 metres apart outside a roadside eatery near Konark and Venkatadiri theatres in the area located on the Hyderabad-Vijaywada national highway in Cyberabad police limits.

Eight people were killed in the first blast that took place at 6.58pm near Konark theatre and three in the second that followed three minutes later.