Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel was allegedly manhandled by an overzealous security personnel during the first cricket one-dayer between India and Pakistan at the Sheikh Zayed stadium in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
Also, ICC CEO Malcolm Speed, Indian Cricket Board President Sharad Pawar and a few other elite cricketing functionaries were stopped at the entrance.
The organisational blunder might be attributed to heightened security in view of the presence of high profile guests, including Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf.
But it was a blot in the opening chapter of the desert venue that is hosting its first ever international tie and hoping to be cricket hub of the UAE in the years to come.
Some of the media persons too were denied entry despite having valid passes and were made to wait for close to two hours before being allowed in.
Later Abu Dhabi Cricket Council President BR Shetty regretted the "inconvenience" caused to the guests.
"Significant extra security measures had to be implemented in view of visiting foreign dignitaries, (which) affected the smooth running of the match," he said in a hastily drafted press statement.
{{/usCountry}}"Significant extra security measures had to be implemented in view of visiting foreign dignitaries, (which) affected the smooth running of the match," he said in a hastily drafted press statement.
{{/usCountry}}"All possible security measures were put in place to minimise the impact of this security requirement but regrettably some people suffered inconvenience and discomfort."