The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : One-day venues switched

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 30, 2005

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Sport - Cricket

One-day venues switched

KARACHI: Pakistan has switched the venues for the first two one-day internationals against India in February for security reasons, the director of operations for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Saleem Altaf, said on Thursday.

Altaf said the first match would be played in Rawalpindi on February 6 and the second in Peshawar two days later.

The first match was originally scheduled for Peshawar and the second for Pindi.

Altaf said police in Pindi had informed the board they did not have enough people to staff the match.

Delegation team returns

Meanwhile, the five-member delegation returned in New Delhi on Thursday after completing an inspection tour of Pakistan.

The delegation comprised Yashovardhan Azad, a senior police officer, BCCI's executive secretary in-charge Ratnakar Shetty, board's media committee member G.S. Walia and two Government officials.

The delegation will submit its assessment report to the Home Ministry shortly.

Ministry's guarantee

The BCCI recce team has been assured by the Interior Ministry that they would leave no stone unturned to arrange a foolproof security for the high-profile series against India.

According to an Associated Press of Pakistan report, the delegation, led by Yashovardhan Azad, visited the Interior Ministry on Wednesday to discuss the proposed security arrangements for the cricket series.

Detailed briefing

The delegation was given a detailed briefing on the security measures planned for the series and according to the report the team was satisfied.

The ministry has already instructed the Home Departments in the provinces to ensure all security steps, it added.

The Indian delegation also met Syed Kamal Shah, Secretary Interior, to discus the matter.

Later Mr. Shah said adequate security measures would be put in place for the Indian cricketers as well as visitors from the other side of the border. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials were also present in the meeting. — Agencies

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