MCC vows tight security measures

LONDON - The Marylebone Cricket Club today said it had received the approval of Australian Cricket Board chief executive Malcolm Speed and his Pakistan equivalent over new security measures for tomorrow's one day final at Lord's.

The MCC, the controllers of the famous north London ground, announced steps including the banning of flags, banners, musical instruments and, according to its chief executive Roger Knight, "anything else that might be a missile".

This included fireworks -- such as those which prompted Tuesday's walk-off by the Australians at Trent Bridge.

"Anyone found with fireworks will immediately be ejected from the crowd and it is possibly a criminal offence," Knight said.

The MCC has decided, however, not to try to stop the crowd invading the ground by the use of plastic mesh fencing, which was trialed with some success at Trent Bridge. Knight said this was because of the "configuration of the ground".

The number of stewards and police patrolling the crowd would be "considerably higher" than usual, Knight said.

But he was reluctant to go into specifics such as the number of officials who would be patrolling the ground, saying it would be best if only a few details of security plans were publicised.

He said stewards would "robustly" search spectators as they entered the ground, but could not guarantee that every ticket holder would be checked.

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief executive Tim Lamb said he, Speed and Pakistan's Brigadier Munawar Rana had today met with Knight and MCC security chiefs and that all were satisfied with the arrangements made.

Team captains Steve Waugh and Waqar Younis would be briefed later today.

"I think I can speak on behalf of the chief executives when I say we're very happy with the additional measures Roger and his team have put in place," Lamb said.

Lamb added cricket authorities in England would still need government legislation to allow greater measures against pitch invasions, which, when occurring at the end of a day's play, have long been seen as a tradition at grounds here.

Knight said TV broadcasters had also agreed not to focus their cameras on the crowd, and nor would their antics be shown on the big screen at the ground.

Stewards would patrol the outer reaches of the Lord's complex, while public address announcements would be made in all languages relevant to fans of both teams.

The measures were announced in the wake of several pitch invasions during the English summer so far, amid concerns that it is simply too difficult to stop all fans running onto grounds of this size.

Waugh has threatened to lead his players off the field in the event that his team's safety is compromised, a move backed by Speed.

Knight said he respected Waugh's stance, but felt the measures put in place would prevent the chance of a walk-off.

"Obviously Steve Waugh has a responsibility to his team. We too as the ground authority have a responsibility to them," Knight said.

"If there was a seriously dangerous situation I would advise the teams to go off the ground.

"But at this stage we are not anticipating that would happen."