September 13, 2003	Saturday	Rajab 15, 1424

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PESHAWAR, Sept 12: Local cricket fans have expressed concern over the possibility of shifting of South Africa’s second Test against Pakistan to another venue, asking the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to make sure that the Proteas agree on playing in Peshawar.

“There is no security concern as far as Peshawar is concerned which is evident from the recently-held Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh”, said Mohammad Saeed Khan.

He said, thousands of local cricket fans were anxiously waiting to see the South African team in action at the Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium on Oct 16.

The PCB has received a letter from the United Cricket Board (UCB) of South Africa to shift the Test matches from Peshawar and Karachi on account of security.

Secretary of the Peshawar District Cricket Association, Abdul Aziz, said that South Africa was a strong team and the people expected an entertaining contest.

“There is no problem of security and we hope South Africa will play here” he added.

South Africa will arrive in Pakistan on Sept 21 for three Test matches and as many One-day internationals.

Peshawar has so far hosted six Tests at the Arbab Niaz Stadium where cricket enthusiasts have flocked to the venue to watch the game. A case in point is the second Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh where despite severe heat and humidity a large number of spectators turned up to watch the game. Despite the fact that Bangladesh is regarded as a weak team a sizeable number of fans reached the stadium to see their performance.

Given the strength and reputation of the South African team and the good season, it is hoped that the 17,000 capacity Arbab Niaz Stadium would not be able to accommodate the number of spectators.

 “Now, we are waiting for world’s second best team to perform here. The South Africans should come for the sake of cricket and its fans”, said Saeed, who claimed that he had been watching al the Tests and One-day internationals so far held in Peshawar.

According to him, it was the weakness and ineptness of the PCB that the Proteas were reluctant to play in Peshawar.

“What happened to Bangladesh when they played here. They got tremendous ovation from the crowd”, said another fan Murad Ali.

He said that if the South Africans were not coming here, then the PCB should also adopt the same posture and also not visit South Africa.

Many others cricket fans also expressed concern over the possibility of shifting the second Test from Peshawar and have said that it would deprive them from watching some of the world’s best players in action.