Abu Dhabi: Security arrangements reached a new high for an international cricket match during yesterday's third one-day international between Australia and Pakistan in the on-going Chapal Cup series.

All fans with valid tickets for the match were tagged with security wrist bands soon after they entered the stadium and after their belongings were checked. This is perhaps the first time that cricket fans were given these wristbands, which once sealed cannot be used again.

"This was one of the procedures laid down by the police as part of the enhanced security," said Abu Dhabi Cricket Club President Dilawar Mani. "We would like to take every precautionary measure in the interest of the security of players as well as the spectators," he said.

The wrist bands, which are usually used for fans attending music concerts, will also put an end to sharing by spectators or exchanging their tickets with others for any particular period of the match.

Reporters in the press box perched at the fifth floor of the Zayed Cricket Stadium also experienced another first when the Police Dog Squad arrived about 90 minutes before the start of the match. The journalists were asked to leave the area and after the dogs did their job the reporters resumed their duties.

Even during Sunday's training sessions by the Australians (in the morning) and the Pakistanis in the evening, security was tight and even some fans were asked to leave by the policemen.

The five-match series, which was to be played in Pakistan but later shifted to the UAE, is expected to adopt some tough security measures, particularly after the attack on the Sri Lankan team during the Lahore Test match in Pakistan on March 3.