Chandigarh, Oct. 5:Elaborate security arrangements have been deployed ahead of the ICC’s Champions Trophy cricket matches scheduled to commence at the Punjab Cricket Association’s stadium in Mohali on Sunday.

Five of the tournament matches are to be played at the PCA Stadium near Chandigarh. The opening match on Saturday will be between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Other teams slated to play at Mohali include India, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

As many as 650 policemen have already been stationed around the PCA Stadium and an additional 350 private security officers will be brought in during each of the day-night cricket matches to be played here.

Mohali police chief, Naunihal Singh said the security was being put in place to preempt any possible terrorist strike during the Champions Trophy.

He said, "after all cricket is India’s most popular sport."

The array of security arrangements includes a systematic barricading of all routes to, from and around the PCA, round-the-clock monitoring through close circuit television, infrared scanners to spot fake tickets, mounted police for crowd control and view-cutters to separate individual spectator sections inside the stadium.

The police officer said no mobile phones would be permitted inside the stadium during the game.

He also warned that all troublemakers as well as those trying to gain entry with counterfeit tickets would be charged under the Indian Penal Code.