LAHORE, Dec 23: An Indian delegation will arrive at the weekend to assess security at cricket venues, especially at Karachi, ahead of India’s tour here next month.

“The five member security team is arriving here and will tour Karachi on Dec 26,” a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official said on Friday.

India will start their tour of Pakistan from Jan 6, playing three Tests and five one-day games.

New Delhi has cleared the tour but concerns remain, particularly over Karachi where foreign teams have previously refused to play a five-day Test.

India rejected the city for a Test when they toured Pakistan last year, their first tour across the border since 1989-90.

Pakistan cricket authorities were confident Karachi would get the go-ahead to host a Test and limited-overs game after England played a one-day game there without any problems early this month.

Senior police official and security expert Yashovardhan Azad heads the visiting delegation that includes Indian Board of Control for Cricket officials Ratnakar Shetty, G. S. Walia, Rajiv Shukla and Ranghbir Singh Krishna.

Azad, elder brother of former cricket international Kirti Azad, managed security for the Pakistani team in 1999 and early this year.—AFP