November 18, 2006	Saturday	Shawwal 25, 1427

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MULTAN, Nov 17: Inclement weather threatens to disrupt the second Test match between Pakistan and the West Indies which commences at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

The last two days have been overcast with scattered rain reported in the city. The locals have predicted similar weather conditions prevailing for the next few days although it seldom rains here at this time of the year.

But if the conditions were to remain as they appear at the moment, the prospects of play being badly reduced in the Test match are fairly high.

The West Indies, which arrived here on Thursday after having lost the first Test at Lahore by nine wickets, had a practice session at the stadium on Friday morning despite intermittent showers.

The tourists appeared confident about senior batsman and former captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul to get fully fit for the crucial match. The 32-year-old Chanderpaul, who made 81 in the second innings of Lahore Test, has been troubled by a stomach problem since the series started.

The left-hander, who is poised to play in his 100th Test, spent sometime in the nets and looked quite good.

Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and coach Bob Woolmer, meanwhile, turned up at the ground shortly around Friday noon to have a closer look at the match pitch before heading to the team hotel.

Meanwhile, stringent security measures greeted Pakistan cricketers as they arrived in the city.

The players were escorted by special police forces and other agencies while traffic remained restricted on roads leading to the team’s hotel from Multan Airport.

The authorities blocked traffic on the roundabouts between Abdali Masjid Chowk and Nawan Shehr Chowk while barriers were placed on roads soon after Brian Lara’s squad arrived at the hotel on Thursday.

Close-circuit surveillance cameras have been installed at strategic points to keep vigil on suspicious elements in this historic southern Punjab city of saints of shrines with a population in excess of four million.

Moreover, the district police have made unprecedented security arrangements to avert any untoward incidents with more than 20 pickets marshalling teams’ route between the hotel and the Multan Cricket Stadium during the Test.

A large of number of people rushed to get the 10,000 free tickets for the Test which were made available by the Pakistan Cricket Board at the District Sport Ground and Ibn-e-Qasim Bagh which hosted just one Test some 26 years ago when Clive Lloyd-led West Indies played here.

Both teams are scheduled to have nets on Saturday also.