NEW DELHI, Jan 24 - A Pakistani delegation arrived
in India on Monday to assess security at match venues ahead of
their first test tour there for six years.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official Zakir Khan and Sohail
Khan, a security expert, will undertake a five-day tour before
submitting their report.
The Pakistan squad is scheduled to arrive on February 25 to
play three tests and five one-day internationals.
The officials will begin their inspection on Tuesday in
Mohali, the probable first test venue in the state of Punjab
bordering Pakistan. The provisional venues and order of the
matches will be confirmed after the delegation's visit.
"Our job is look at the venues, accommodation for the
players, travel, and of course, the security of the team," Zakir
Khan said on arrival in New Delhi.
Ahmedabad, the major city in Gujarat, is due to host one
test but is a controversial choice after the western state was
rocked by India's worst communal riots for a decade in 2002.
Zakir Khan said although the choice of venues was up to the
host board, the PCB would discuss any concerns with Indian
cricket officials.
"We are here with an open mind," he said. "We'll look at
everything and present our report to the cricket board."
Activists from the radical Hindu party, Shiv Sena, have said
they will attempt to disrupt the one-day match in Delhi in
protest against the tour. The PCB, however, has said it is
confident the Indian board will make adequate security plans.
Pakistan have not played a test series in India since 1999
because of political tensions between the two countries. India
embarked on their first test tour of Pakistan for 14 years last
March and April as relations improved.