NEW DELHI, Dec 20: India has conditionally cleared the national cricket team to play a Test in Karachi during their tour of Pakistan starting next month. “The tour has been cleared (by the government). Karachi has also been cleared to play a Test, provided certain security conditions are met,” Rajiv Shukla, chairman of the Indian cricket board’s media committee, told reporters.

“The government informed us yesterday,” he said.

The Indians refused to play a Test in the city when they toured Pakistan last year.

When India toured Pakistan in March-April last year, they declined to play a Test match in Karachi but agreed to a one-dayer there.

In a tit-for-tat response, Pakistan refused a Test in Ahmedabad and opted for a one-dayer there during their tour of India this year.

Shukla said a team comprising security and cricket board officials would travel to Pakistan to make a first-hand assessment of the situation in the volatile city.

“The home ministry has advised some security measures for the match in Karachi.

A team of BCCI and government officials will visit Pakistan to see these measures are put in place.”

Although a major cricket venue, Karachi has been the scene of a series of bomb blasts in recent years.

Only two Tests have been staged in Karachi in the last five years with teams particularly hesitant to play there after the Sept 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.

Last year, the Indian government cleared the team to play only a one-day game in Karachi at the last moment, but the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had requested that their neighbours should agree a Test match this time.

The Indian team leave on Jan 6 for Lahore where they play a three-day tour opener from Jan 7 to 9.

The first Test will also be held in Lahore from Jan 14 to 18, followed by two more Tests in Faisalabad (Jan 22-26) and Karachi (Jan 30-Feb 3).

India are also scheduled to five one-dayers in Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Multan and Karachi during their tour.—Agencies