Cricket World Cup 2011: U.S. issues travel warnings

Fearing high-profile sports events could be targets for terrorist attacks, the U.S. government has issued a travel advisory for its citizens visiting the host nations of the ICC World Cup 2011 , including India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka; the administration has advised people to avoid non-essential travel to public places in these countries.

The State Department issued a statement on Thursday, warning citizens to remain vigilant while visiting public places, including religious sites, or choosing hotels, restaurants, entertainment, and recreation and sporting venues.

U.S. citizens should maintain a high level of vigilance, be aware of local events, and take appropriate steps to bolster their personal security, it said.

Though the U.S. government has no specific threat information regarding the Cricket World Cup, which runs from February 19 to April 2, it said,Travelers should pay particular attention at this time to the information on safety and security, crime, scams, traffic safety, and road conditions.

Watch ICC Cricket World Cup grand opening ceremony that happened in Dhaka on Thursday, below. The video also puts light on some of the most famous tourist attractions of India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.