ISLAMABAD, Feb 26: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), bending backwards as much as they can to please the Indians ahead of their forthcoming tour, have told their counterparts they would expect them to reciprocate when Pakistan play there next year.
Dawn was told on Thursday that the PCB has communicated to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that they would want identical arrangements. It is understood that the PCB is not happy the way the BCCI have been making demands on them on matters of security and other arrangements for their tour starting on March 10.
"We have been accepting all their demands, which at times are irritating but we would want the same set of procedures and facilities when we tour that country," said an official.
The PCB has made it clear that they too would send an advance party, as the Indians did, to assess security for their tour and reserve a right not to play at centres like Mumbai, the stronghold of Shiv Sena.
Pakistan will play three Tests and as many one-day Internationals during their tour next February. "We will assess ground realities before the tour and only if our security concerns are addressed, we will play at a certain venue," the official said.
India upset cricket fans in Karachi and Peshawar by refusing to play Test matches at these centres saying they would not like to stay in these cities for longer periods for security reasons. But they agreed to play only one-day matches at the two venues.
The PCB also called on the BCCI to show tolerance and wisdom and ignore minor incidents that might occur during the series for cricket arouses passions in the subcontinent.
The BCCI said on Thursday that it reserved a right to call of the tour if there were any incidents of stone or bottle throwing. Although foolproof security will be in place for the touring team, India have said they will be sending three security officials of their own. The Indians are to play five one-day matches and three Tests besides a side game.
