Security beefed up for Sourav Ganguly

Police have stepped up security for Sourav Ganguly after reports that the Indian cricket captain is on the kidnap list of a Pakistan-based guerrilla group, an official said on Tuesday.

"We have increased his security," Dinesh Vajpai, director-general of West Bengal police said. He gave no details.

Ganguly is a resident of Calcutta.

A relative of Ganguly, who did not wish to be identified, said that before the threat the cricketer had a single police vehicle escorting him during his travels.

"The government is acting on its own by providing more security after the threat," the relative said.

Local media, quoting police and intelligence sources, reported that the Lashkar-e-Taiba group had threatened to kidnap Ganguly and Test batsman Sachin Tendulkar, among other prominent figures, to bargain for political demands.

The Hindu newspaper said the threat to the players had come to light when police caught some alleged members of the group.

Mail Cricket Editor