Indian security officials due in Pakistan ahead of cricket series by AFP

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Event:

India in Pakistan 2005/06

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DateLine: 23rd December 2005

 

An Indian delegation will arrive at the weekend to assess security at cricket venues, especially at port city Karachi, ahead of India's tour here next month.

 

"The five member security team is arriving here and will tour Karachi on December 26," Pakistan Cricket Board security coordinator Zakir Khan told AFP on Friday.

 

India will start their tour of Pakistan from January 6, playing three Tests and five one-day games.

 

New Delhi has cleared the tour but concerns remain, particularly over violence-plagued Karachi where foreign teams have previously refused to play a five-day Test.

 

India rejected the city for a Test when they toured Pakistan last year, their first tour across the border since 1989-90.

 

Pakistan cricket authorities were confident Karachi would get the go-ahead to host a Test and limited-overs game after England played a one-day game there without any problems early this month.

 

Senior police official and security expert Yashovardhan Azad heads the visiting delegation that includes Indian Board of Control for Cricket officials Ratnakar Shetty, G. S. Walia, Rajiv Shukla and Ranghbir Singh Krishna.

 

Azad, elder brother of former cricket international Kirti Azad, managed security for the Pakistani team in 1999 and early this year.

 

Pakistan's Khan said an assessment of all of the venues would not be possible because of heavy fog in the Punjab.

 

"Besides Karachi, the next important venue is Peshawar, where the team will visit after Karachi," said Khan.

 

Peshawar has also been rejected by foreign teams in the past because of its close proximity with Afghanistan. England also refused to play in Peshawar, but India played a one-day game in the northern city on their last trip.

(Article: Copyright © 2005 AFP)