June 30, 2008	Monday	Jamadi-us-Sani 25, 1429

KARACHI, June 29: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has put in its own men to take a look at how safe Pakistan will be for the Champions Trophy.

The ICC will not only rely on the report of security expert Reg Dickason, recruited jointly by Cricket Australia (CA), New Zealand Cricket (NZC) and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), on hosting Champions Trophy, it has also engaged a separate South African security consultant company — Nicholls Steyn and Associates — to oversee the security assessments, it is learnt.

Accordingly, three security experts — Faisul Nagel (Head, Sports Security Division), Bruce Spargo and Steve Stephenson (Stadium Security Consultants) representing the company, are in Pakistan to oversee the arrangements.

Dickason is believed to have left Karachi to return to the West Indies after his 24-hour stay in the city.

But the ICC consultants are likely to remain in Pakistan till the Asia Cup is over. They have finished their assessment tour of Lahore and Rawalpindi.

On Sunday, they preferred to remain to themselves for their work rather than having PCB officials with them. Having provided protective services to the highest level of clientele in a variety of countries, the South Africa-based company’s co-owner Robert (Bob) Nichollas is also set to visit Pakistan next week.

The company is likely to submit its final report within a fortnight after the Asia Cup and on the basis of this report, a final decision to award the Champions Trophy would be taken.

—Agencies