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| September 15, 2003 | Monday | Rajab 17, 1424 |
SA officials satisfied with Karachi security: Police
KARACHI, Sep 14: A South African delegation has expressed satisfaction over security arrangements made by Pakistani police for their cricket team’s tour later this month, a senior police officer said on Sunday.
“In an hour long meeting we assured them of the top level security to be provided to the South African team and they were happy and satisfied,” city police chief Tariq Jamil told AFP.
The meeting, which was held at the office of paramilitary Rangers was attended by senior police and security officials, he added.
“We told them that there is no specific threat either to the South African team or to the scheduled matches here.”
The South African team would be escorted by the Rangers, while the paramilitary soldiers would also be deployed at the hotel and stadium, another police officer Asad Ashraf Malik said.
“People of Karachi are crazy about cricket and are looking forward to seeing exciting cricket. They love South Africa and the players can themselves judge from the reception they get here,” Malik said.
The three-member delegation of South African security officials arrived in Pakistan on Saturday to ascertain security at the venues.
The delegation was briefed by police and paramilitary rangers in Karachi and Peshawar, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials said.
The United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) had demanded that the PCB relocate matches scheduled in Karachi and Peshawar over security concerns.
South Africa has already been offered security levels usually reserved for state heads by the PCB.
The UCBSA delegation includes commercial director Ian Smith, security director Bob Nicholas and Ben van Deventer from the South African police services.
Deventer also served as the security director of the World Cup, held in South Africa, Kenya and Zimbabwe in February-March this year.
The South African team during its Sept 22 to Oct 27 tour will play three One-day Internationals and as many Tests.
They play a one-day warm up game on Sept 24 and a One-day International on Sept 26 — both in Karachi.
The South African team will also play a Test each in Peshawar (Oct 16-20) and in Karachi (Oct 23-27).
Pakistan also hosts a day-night one-day match against Bangladesh in Karachi on Sept 21, a day before the South African team is scheduled to arrive in the city.
Pakistan have suffered a cricket drought as foreign teams have refused to tour the country following two suicide bomb blasts in Karachi during Test series in May and June last year.
Pakistan were forced to play two of their home series matches against the West Indies and Australia at neutral venues last year as both teams refused to tour the country.
The first blast on May 8 outside a hotel where the New Zealand team was staying forced them to pack their bags and cut the tour short by one Test.
However, New Zealand are set to compensate for that match by touring Pakistan in November this year when they will play five one-day games.—AFP
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