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LAHORE, Sept 10: A three-member security team of the South Africa’s United Cricket Board (UCB) board will be arriving here on Sept 14 on a three-day visit to review security arrangements ahead of their team’s visit to Pakistan next month, said a spokesman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday.
“ The team will be visiting the centres at Karachi and Peshawar besides holding talks with the PCB authorities on security issues”, said the spokesman.
UCB has expressed security concerns for playing at Karachi and Peshawar and the PCB has already assured them the best possible security during the visit as they did during the matches against Bangladesh recently.
The visit of the security team aims at judging the situation themselves by having separate inspection of Karachi and Peshawar stadia.
PCB spokesman said it has no objection on the trip of the security team as it has been a common practice by the touring sides to send their similar parties for venue inspections and to review security arrangements. England and New Zealand cricket boards also sent their security teams ahead of their teams tours in the past,he said.
When asked about the stance of the PCB for a possible change in the two venues on which the South Africans have raised doubts, he said, PCB has so far no plans to alter the venues as they assured the touring side of foolproof security at Karachi and Peshawar Test where matches of the home series against Bangladesh were peacefully conducted.
“Pakistan is a safe venue for sporting events, specially for cricket and it was proved when we successfully organised Test matches at these two centres”.
He said the security team would be having talks with the PCB authorities and will wind up its visit in three days.
“Nothing is wrong with the security and we assure all the visiting teams that extra-ordinary arrangements would be made for their security and protection during their visits”, he added.
Johannesburg: South African batsman Neil McKenzie believes United Cricket Board (UCB) will take adequate steps to ensure players’ safety, should they go ahead with their tour of Pakistan.
South African team returned to Johannesburg on Wednes-day, after completing an ard-uous ODI and Test tour of England.
They will have little opportunity to dwell on their successes and failures, as they could be off to Pakistan in less than a fortnight.
“We only have 10 days at home and then we are off to Pakistan,” McKenzie wrote for BBC Online.
“It’s not much of a chance to rest, but I’m sure some of the guys will turn that 10 days into a month!”
While Bangladesh are currently touring Pakistan, UCB will send a team to assess security situation at Karachi and Peshawar.
The team leaves on Sunday and by Wednesday UCB should be in a position to judge whether or not the tour should go ahead.
“We trust our cricket board if they say it’s safe enough to tour Pakistan,” McKenzie continued. “I think they have taken necessary precautions.”
FAISALABAD: Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has appealed to South Africa to play Test matches in Karachi and Peshawar on their tour later this month.
“There is absolutely nothing wrong in these two cities. We have just played Bangladesh in Tests in Karachi and Peshawar and everything was fine. I don’t think South Africans should expect any problems,” Rashid said.
“South African cricketers are very popular in Pakistan and people want to see them play everywhere. I don’t think they would be doing any service to themselves or Pakistan cricket by opting not to play at Karachi or Peshawar,” stated Pakistan captain.
“The security situation in a big city like Karachi is no different than other big cities and PCB has assured best security arrangements for them. I think South Africans have a commitment to people of Pakistan and international cricket community to play according to their original itinerary.”—Agencies
