The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : No immediate plan to change tour itinerary: PCB

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 17, 2005

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Sport - Cricket

No immediate plan to change tour itinerary: PCB

Lahore : The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan said there were no immediate plans to reschedule the itinerary of the current England tour to Pakistan following the bomb explosion in Karachi.

Khan told reporters that it would be premature to make a hasty decision as regards to staging of the ODI to be played in Karachi on December 15.

"We have discussed the unfortunate bomb blast in Karachi with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) vice-chairman Mike Soper, who is here, and the England team manager Phil Neale and we have all agreed there is no need to take immediate action on the blast until we have more details from the Pakistan government and the Karachi administration," he said.

"Both the PCB and ECB are keeping in touch with their respective governments for further advice. But, definitely we would like England to play in Karachi," he added.

The PCB chief pledged that the already foolproof security provided to both England and Pakistan cricket teams would be further strengthened.

Limited stay

England, which has already refused to play a Test in Karachi due to security concerns, has limited its stay in the port city to just two days even for the one-dayer.

"Australia and Sri Lanka continued to play in London and Delhi despite blasts there and also in Lahore the Australian `A' team was convinced to remain and complete their tour after the cycle blasts recently," Khan said.

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