Mohali, Oct. 8: Not very long ago, visiting a cricket match was — despite boorish policemen, poor amenities and seating, over-charging caterers, et al — still a day out worth anticipating.

Going by what has been put in place as part of the "security arrangements" as witnessed at the first game of the 2006 ICC Champions Trophy qualifying round here on Saturday, however, it is most certainly no longer the case.

Possibly, Messrs Sharad Pawar and Malcolm Speed should take a hard look at ground realities as they exist — at least in Mohali. And may be join some of those on foot to really gauge what has been laid on courtesy of the local police as "protection" for this tournament.

In the name of safety for the teams that will be playing here — and that includes all the high-profile squads in the competition — the area around the PCA Stadium has been so completely "sanitised" that it is difficult to imagine something even as unstoppable a tank getting in without a "security pass", which visitors were constantly asked for despite holding either valid match tickets, passes or accreditations.

According to reports in the local press, some of these measures have been installed at substantial cost, including barricading, zoning and laning of approaches to the stadium. In the past, these approach roads used to be sealed for the duration of play, and reopened to traffic thereafter.

This time however, the roads stay closed. While police arrangements are very firmly in place, there is an almost total absence of signage to direct those approaching the stadium. For visitors in vehicles and protected by a parking sticker, bearable. For those not so fortunate, it is a long walk to and from the ground.

Sample some of the "arrangements":

i) Thick iron barriers, edge-to-edge, eight feet tall;

ii) Sealed off lanes sans signage;

iii) three layers of checking and frisking; etc, etc

Punjab cricket officials are helpless. "Security outside the grounds is in the hands of the local police. We have to go by their suggestions," one of them said. No one is arguing with the need for security and safety of the players. But surely there is a balance between that and the purpose of this ICC Champions Trophy — "the best way to safeguard the game’s long-term future", in the words of Mr Speed.