KARACHI, Sept 27: Former Pakistan captain and wicketkeeper Wasim Bari on Saturday urged the South African cricketers to leave security concerns behind them when they start their tour next week.

“I hope the South African team leaves all their security fears back home when they come to Pakistan and play cricket with an open mind,” Bari, 55, said.

The South Africans arrive on a rescheduled tour of Pakistan on Tuesday, a week after cancelling their full tour over security fears.

They play the first of five One-day Internationals in Lahore on Oct 3.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that the first One-day International will be a testimonial match for Bari in acknowledgement of his services to the game.

“Bari is being honoured for his meritorious services to the game of cricket and the country. He is still one of the greatest ambassadors of the country,” PCB chief executive Ramiz Raja said.

“A certain percentage of the income from the first one-day international will be awarded to Bari as his benefit,” Ramiz announceed.

Bari, who also served as chief selector until March this year, played 81 Tests between 1967 to 1984 and scored 1,366 runs besides taking 201 catches and 27 stumpings.

In 51 One-day Internationals, Bari claimed 52 catches and 10 stumpings besides scoring 221 runs.—AFP

Our Sports Reporter from Rawalpindi: A three-member delegation from South Africa on Saturday termed Rawalpindi as the safest city after they were briefed on security by the District Police Officer ahead of their cricket team’s tour.

In a meeting at the Rawalpindi Stadium, Syed Marawat Shah told the officials what arrangements had been made for the security of their cricketers who will play two One-day Internationals at the venue on Oct 10 and 12.

The meeting, also attended by Nazim Tariq Kiani, went on for about three hours following which the South African delegation expressed satisfaction over the steps that had been taken for their team’s security.

The South African delegation, which flew in from Lahore comprised Ian Smith, financial consultant to the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA), Ben van Deventer, their security consultant and Steve Coetzee.

Smith and Deventer were also part of the delegation that inspected security in Karachi and Peshawar earlier this month. Both venues were scrapped from the tour itinerary after a bomb went of in Karachi ahead of the South Africans’ arrival.

The Rawalpindi Stadium hosted a day/night International against Bangladesh this month, a match that witnessed no untoward incident.