Police to deploy SWAT teams with snipers for T20 World Cup games in New York after chilling threats by pro-ISIS group

Secret police snipers will stand guard at the first T20 World Cup match in New York on Monday when South Africa take on Sri Lanka.

It comes amid renewed fears of terrorist attacks at this year’s tournament after a chilling poster was released hinting at bloodshed at Eisenhower Park on Long Island.

Last week, a pro-ISIS outlet published an image showing a hooded man with a gun slung over his shoulder. It said ‘You are waiting for the matches…’ and then – written in dripping blood red – ‘And we are waiting for you…’

The poster referred to June 9 at the ‘Nassau Stadium’, the day on – and where – bitter rivals India and Pakistan will meet in a group match.

It also included images of drones flying over the stadium and a stick of dynamite with a ticking clock. However, DailyMail.com understands that the poster has not prompted US authorities to raise the threat level of an attack.

There are fears of terrorist attacks at the T20 World Cup after a chilling poster was released

An International Cricket Council (ICC) spokesperson said in a statement: ‘The safety and security of everyone at the event is our number one priority and we have a comprehensive and robust security plan in place.

However, BBC Sport reported on Monday that security has been tightened by Nassau County police.

Measures being taken include SWAT teams with specialist snipers, as well as a number of plainclothes police officers on the ground.

It is also claimed that officers from the narcotics division will watch over the four drop-in fields set up in Australia to ensure they are not sabotaged.

The T20 tournament will be held between June 1 and 29 in the United States and the Caribbean.

Eight games will be held in a newly built temporary stadium in Eisenhower Park – 30 miles east of Manhattan.

This includes the standout group stage match, which will see India and Pakistan meet in a sold-out match at the 34,000 capacity Nassau County International Cricket Stadium.

The ICC previously downplayed fears of a terrorist threat to the tournament after reports that Islamic State had encouraged attacks.

Bitter rivals India and Pakistan will meet in New York on June 9 in a highly anticipated match

Earlier this month, as reports of threats circulated online, Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago Keith Rowley said: “Unfortunately, the threat of terrorism in its many and varied manifestations is an ever-present danger in the 21st century world. .’

“Given that bad actors can choose to misbehave in any way, it becomes virtually impossible to completely eliminate all opportunities.”

“To mitigate these dangers, however, we have remained alert to many threats at local and regional levels and our intelligence and other security services have worked individually or together to protect populations in countries and locations during the tournament.”

The ICC and Cricket West Indies would not confirm that the threat came from Islamic State, whose propaganda channel, Nashir-e Pakistan, is said to have encouraged attacks on sporting events.

But in a joint statement, the ICC and CWI said: ‘We are working closely with authorities in host countries and cities, and are continuously monitoring and evaluating the global landscape to ensure that appropriate plans are in place to address the risks posed to our event have been identified.

“We would like to assure all stakeholders that the safety and security of everyone at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is our top priority and that we have a comprehensive and robust security plan in place.”