20 February 2005	Sunday	10 Muharram 1426

AHMEDABAD, Feb 19: Indian extremist organisation Shiv Sena has condemned Pakistan cricket team's scheduled visit to Ahmedabad in Gujarat state and reiterated that all measures will be taken to prevent Pakistanis from landing in the city.

Karnavati Vice President of Shiv Sena Amit Bhavsan said they would have welcomed the guests like any other as "mahman bhagavan ke roop hote hai (guests are considered gods here), but their initial refusal to come to Ahmedabad have hurt sentiments.

"It is a matter of disrespect for all Indians that they have changed their mind after much pleading," he claimed. Police Commissioner K R Kaushik said that since reputation of the state and the country will be at stake, the administration will "not tolerate any nuisance and all measures would be taken to ensure smoothing functioning of the match in Ahmedabad."

Gujarat Cricket Association Presiudent Narhari Amin said "even Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray has been voicing such words From quite sometime, but to no avail. "There will be no problem whatsoever. The state and Centre have agreed to provide adequate security for the match so we don't see any cause for worry," Amin maintained.

Meanwhile, clouds of doubt hovering over Ahmedabad's chance of hosting an Indo-Pak tie finally blew over when Pakistan Cricket Board accepted Indian Cricket Board's offer to play an extra One-Dayer in the city in place of Test that was scheduled earlier.

Pakistan will now play three Tests and six One-Day Internationals as against five ODIs scheduled earlier. Second Test will be played in Kolkata. But mystery still shrouds over which One-Dayer will be played in the city.

Though BCCI said that sixth and final ODI will be played at Ahmedabad, GCA president said this is still undecided. "We will know which tie is slated for Ahmedabad after BCCI meeting. The third or fourth ODI is most likely to be played here.

"PCB has made a positive and mature decision." However, Amin added "their refusal to play a Test here could be a tit-for-tat response as India, too, had refused to play Tests at Karachi and Peshawar during its tour of Pakistan last year."

Welcoming PCB decision, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi said, "I hope they come, play and show sportsman spirit. Allah and Ishwar have given them understanding (to reconsider the decision to play here). I thank them and offer my best wishes to both teams."

However, Amdavadis are ecstatic. Tushar Mohanta, an executive with MetLife Insurance, pooh-poohed security concerns as "a normal Feature in any city" and said that he was happy that a One-Dayer will be played here and not a Test. I will definitely go to watch the tie."

GCA has left no stone unturned in their bid to make the match a memorable one. "It's three years since the city witnessed communal tension. We have taken all step to ensure smooth functioning of the match," said Amin.

Security in and around Sardar Patel Gujarat Stadium in Motera has been beefed up keeping sensitivity of the venue in view. "More than 1,500 policemen will be deployed on the day of the match. Fans will be prevented from carrying objectionable items inside the stadium. Even now, the stadium and pitch is being guarded by SRP personnel and private security guards to thwart any untoward incident," said Amin. -Agencies