Chappell to be given extra security in Kolkata

India's coach Greg Chappell will be provided special security when he arrives in Kolkata for Thursday's opening one-day match against Sri Lanka at the Eden Gardens.

Officials in Kolkata are clearly not taking a chance with regard to Chappell, who was confronted by an unruly fan during the recent home series against the West Indies. Chappell, 58, was pushed and hit on the back when the Indian team arrived at Bhubaneswar airport in the state of Orissa on January 22. Chappell, who was rushed into the team bus stationed outside the airport gate, escaped unhurt.

Kolkata police official PK Chatterjee said his force will not allow such an incident to happen again when the Indian team arrives over the next 24 hours. "Special security has been planned for Chappell," Chatterjee told AFP. "We will not allow Bhubaneswar to be repeated. We will throw a ring around Chappell during his stay in the city.

"If Chappell travels by car from the airport, police vans will escort the vehicle till the hotel. If he goes by the team bus, at least five senior police officials will be deployed inside." Thousands of security men will frisk each spectator at the entrance of the 100,000-seater Eden Gardens on match day, Chatterjee added.

Kolkata police commissioner Prasun Mukherjee also heads the Cricket Association of Bengal, which is organising the match. Chappell, who took over as Indian coach in June 2005 for a two-year term, has faced close scrutiny in a cricket-mad nation desperate to see its team succeed on the international scene.