Security cordon closes in on teams

But her eight-hour wait and prayers proved futile. She was parried by the security cordon around the hotel.

“I will be watching the match. Got a gallery ticket for Rs 500, but I wanted to see the players close up. But hard luck. I have been waiting here since morning,” said Sonal, dejection written large on her face.

Not just Sonal, hundred others gathered in front of the hotel, symbolising the enthusiasm of the city for the match, had to return disappointed. Even the media personnel were not allowed inside hotel premises.

The teams arrived at the hotel in orange-coloured Volvo buses. First arrived the Indian team with Sachin Tendulkar and Harbhajan Singh occupying the front seats.

The Pakistan team bus followed soon with Shoaib Akhtar waving at the crowd.

Then the buses moved into the hotel complex and the gates were closed.

The security for the match can also be gauged from the fact that six security personnel were suspended for laxity. On Monday morning, Inspector General of Police, Gwalior Range, DS Sengar entered the ground in civil dress.

The security gaffe was clear when he was not stopped from entering the playing area. He later suspended the six policemen who were assigned the job there to stop anyone from getting into the ground.

The city is gearing up for its first international match in four years. The last one-day international match played here was between

India and Australia in October 2003.

People from all around Madhya Pradesh and even from parts of Uttar Pradesh have booked tickets for the match.

“We have a capacity of 30,000 and all the tickets are sold. I have even been receiving calls from Kanpur and Agra for tickets. Some have managed to get tickets and but we had to turn down many requests,” said press co-ordinator Umesh.

Later in the evening Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik and India’s bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad and cricket manager Lalchand Rajput closely inspected the pitch for about 20 minutes.