October 25, 2007	Thursday	Shawwal 12, 1428

LAHORE, Oct 24: There was bad news for millions of cricket fans in Karachi on Wednesday as the fifth and final One-day International, scheduled to be played in the metropolis on Oct 29, was shifted to Lahore following security concerns shown by the touring South African cricketers.

“The 5th ODI between Pakistan and South Africa will now be played at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Oct 29. The venue has been changed from Karachi to Lahore on the request of the South African team management,” said a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesman while announcing the decision on Wednesday evening.

“It was on the request of the PCB that the South African team management had sent one of its security officers (Stephen Botha) to Karachi on Tuesday. He held meetings with the various Sindh Government officials in this regard and, despite all assurances given to him, Mr Botha felt that playing in Karachi is not feasible for the Proteas at this moment,” the spokesman added.

“We are disappointed and feel that Karachi is safe enough to hold any international event. We, however, have no choice but to accept the decision of the South African team management.”

The Proteas team manager Logan Naidoo, expressing his views on the decision, said: “We deeply regret this decision, especially for the people of Karachi, for having deprived them of this opportunity. But unfortunately the members of the South African contingent are not comfortable travelling to Karachi.”

“The SA team management, after consulting with Cricket South Africa (CSA) back home, would like the venue to be shifted to some other city. We have already played two matches in Karachi during the current tour and hope to play there on our next tour as well.”

The South Africans, wary of a possible security threat in Karachi following the two bomb blasts in a political rally on Oct 18, had expressed reservations about playing the final ODI at the National Stadium.

Following a marathon meeting in Faisalabad with the PCB top brass on Tuesday morning, the visitors decided to assign a security officer to reassess the situation in Karachi prior to a final decision regarding the match.

Dawn learnt on Wednesday that the South African security official, soon after reaching Karachi Tuesday afternoon, took independent opinions from various quarters in the city to know the real position regarding the law and order.

According to the informed sources, the South African security official - after completing the tour of the city – submitted a report which was discussed by the South African cricket authorities back home as well as by their team management in Pakistan, before the final decision was announced.

Sources further told Dawn that the PCB, mindful of the final ODIs dubious status, had begun hectic preparations in Lahore which was proposed as an alternate venue.