18 February 2004	Wednesday	26 Zilhaj 1424

NEW DELHI, Feb 17: India's star batsman Sachin Tendulkar has denied reports that he was opposed to playing in Pakistan over security fears, The Telegraph newspaper said on Tuesday.

"I'm aware of speculation over my availability, but it has been without basis. Now that you've specifically asked me, I'm available," Tendulkar told the paper in Hyderabad where he attended the wedding of his teammate V.V.S. Laxman.

"I'd been quiet thus far, as I didn't think a clarification was necessary. After all, I didn't tell anybody in the media that I won't be going," Tendulkar said.

He was referring to media reports that he and skipper Saurav Ganguly were under pressure from their families not to go to Pakistan over security fears. He said he expected a "good" contest in Pakistan. "Cricket-wise, though, I don't think it's really going to be very different from other commitments."

In New Delhi, Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani denied reports that an Indian security team would travel to Pakistan with the cricket squad. Commenting on media reports that Indian security officials will go to Pakistan with the Indian team, he said it was not true.

"I have seen reports in the media. No Indian security officials will travel with the Indian cricket team to Pakistan," Mr Advani told reporters. Agencies add: Cricket officials from India and Pakistan are set for another round of shadow boxing this week as they iron out the itinerary for next month's Test series in Pakistan.

Even though the Indian government on Saturday ended weeks of speculation by clearing the ice-breaking tour, the respective cricket boards failed to reach an agreement on where the matches should be played.

India are scheduled to play three Tests and five One-day Internationals in March and April on their first full tour of Pakistan since 1989. The bone of contention is the southern metropolis of Karachi and the north-western city of Peshawar, where South Africa and New Zealand declined to play earlier this season because of security concerns.

Karachi has a history of ethnic violence and bomb blasts, while Peshawar is situated close to the volatile Afghanistan border areas. While the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) wants two of the three Test matches to be hosted at these venues, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) would prefer to play only one-day matches there.

"Yes, nothing is finalised yet," conceded Amrit Mathur, who was part of the three-member BCCI delegation which returned from Pakistan on Monday after a tour of prospective venues.

The delegation, which included a security expert from the federal home ministry, will submit a report to the government in the next two days. "We have reservations about Karachi and Peshawar as venues for Test matches since that will involve a week's stay for the team at either place," Mathur said. "But I am sure a solution will be found." The final itinerary for the tour was unlikely to be announced before Friday after the BCCI had studied the government's security report, Mathur said.