No plastic water bottles, no tiffin careers, no firecrackers or musical instruments, no binoculars and cameras, no transistors and cellular phones...

``We are taking no chances whatsoever,'' says deputy commissioner of police Ashok Dhamija.

Is permitting water bottles a risk?

Yes - after the near riot at Bangalore, match referee John Reid has issued a stern warning to the organisers of the tournament. ``Whatever the feelings of the spectators - joy, sorrow, anger - they will have to express it only by yelling,'' says Dhami- ja. ``Throwing things onto the ground will not be permitted.''

Security restrictions notwithstanding, the tickets - 39,000 of them - have been sold out. Scalpers, in fact, have begun charging a premium of Rs 3,000 for a Rs 500 ticket, 24 hours ahead of the game.

A cash bonanza, meanwhile, awaits the two teams. The winning side stands to get Rs 300,000, the losing team half as much.

And then there is the Titan Cup itself - eight kilos of sterling silver worked in a contemporary design and costing Rs 150,000, smaller replicas of which will be given to all members of the winning team.

As for the Titan Of The Series, the sponsors have earmarked a set of his and hers watches of solid gold and classic design, besides matching bracelets, rings, ear studs and cufflinks, all worked in 18 carat yellow and white gold. The estimated cost - Rs 350,000.