KARACHI: The International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Foreign Security Consultant Reg Dickason held a detailed meeting here with the Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and other security authroities at the CM House on Monday with regards to staging the next year’s Pakistan Super League matches in the city and expressed satisfaction over the security arrangements that will be in place for the games.

The meeting was attended by DG Rangers Major General Mohammad Saeed, IG Police AD Khwaja, Home Secretary Qazi Shahid Parvez and Special Secretary to CM Abdul Raheem Shaikh.

During the meeting, the chief minister informed Dickason that Karachi has become one of the peaceful cities of the world after the elimination of terrorists through a vigorous targeted operation conducted over the past year and a half.

“The important roads of the city leading from Airport to the hotels and the stadium have been reconstructed,” said the CM.

“PCB’s security in-charge has already held meetings with DG Rangers and IG Police and they both have agreed to provide top security to the international matches as per the ICC standards,” he informed Dickason.

The ICC foreign security consultant said the teams should be given a separate dedicated route right from airport to hotel, from the hotel to the stadium and and back to which the chief minister agreed.

“Provision of foolproof security to cricket teams is our responsibility and giving security clearance to ICC is your responsibility.”

The chief minister added that he is himself very fond of cricket and plays the game too. “I will personally be monitoring each and everything and our law enforcement agencies would follow the SOP of the security arrangements as suggested by the ICC,” said Murad Ali Shah.

He asserted that Karachi, being the megalopolis, has the right to host international cricket matches. “You will find an amazing crowd in the stadium every day and literally each and every person living in this city would support you and will be hospitable to you,” Murad told Dickason.

Dickason expressed satisfaction at the personal interest and support shown by the chief minister and said he will recommend it to the ICC that the environment and facilities in Karachi are up to the mark for holding international level matches.

Earlier, the DG Rangers and IG police also assured the visiting consultant that the cricket teams would be given the best possible security during their stay in the city.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2017