17 February 2004	Tuesday	25 Zilhaj 1424

NEW DELHI, Feb 16: Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) joint-secretary Ratnakar Shetty, who led a three-member team to Pakistan to check out security and other arrangements for India's proposed tour , expressed "satisfaction" with playing facilities at venues where matches between both teams are likely to be staged.

But he refused to comment on security arrangements Pakistan government has offered the Indian team during its six-week tour, scheduled to begin on March 6. "I am not saying anything on the matter (security) as Yashowardhan Azad, senior IPS official of the Home Ministry was part of our team and he will submit his report to Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani on Tuesday," Shetty told newsmen at the airport soon after returning to Delhi on Monday after spending seven days in Pakistan.

BCCI media relations director Amrit Mathur said the team visited six venues in Pakistan and found playing conditions at almost all the grounds satisfactory. "Barring one place where we found there were some problems, by and large the ground conditions and other playing facilities were of international standard," Mathur said.

The team visited Lahore, Faisalabad, Karachi, Peshawar, Multan and Rawalpindi. "The cricket facilities were good. The hotels in most of the places were good too," he said.

Asked if Indian team would be playing matches in Peshawar and Karachi, Mathur declined to comment, saying it is a security-related matter and only Azad is competent to comment on the subject.

"He will submit his report to Union Home Ministry, which in turn will forward the same to BCCI. Jagmohan Dalmiya, who is currently in London, will return to India on Thursday. The BCCI will meet this weekend in Kolkata to decide the matter and also release the tour schedule," he added. -PPI

Our Sports Correspondent adds from Lahore: The three-member Indian delegation, which was on a tour of the country to see security arrangements at the proposed venues, left for their coutnry on Monday.

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will finalize the itinerary of its team after it receives the delegation's report. Later, a PCB spokesman said that the matches of Pakistan-India series would be held at all the six proposed venues.

"Which venue will host the three-day and which the Test or One-day is a separate issue. But all the cities selected would get a chance," he added. PCB has proposed Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Karachi and Multan as venues for the series.

The spokesman said paceman Shabbir Ahmad's departure to Australia had been delayed due to visa problem. Shabbir will consult Australian Darryl Foster to get his action rectified. He said the six-week period to rectify Shabbir's bowling action will start after the footage of his suspect action is received from ICC.