Indian team assesses security facilities in Multan

14 Feb, 2004

Though Multan is not included in the Indo-Pak matches venues as yet, it is being expected that a one-dayer would be played in Multan if the visiting team agrees to play in this ancient city of south Asia.
A senior officer of Cricket Control Board of India (BCCI) said that Pakistanis are taking much interest in Indian tour of Pakistan because everyone is asking whether Indian team is coming to Pakistan or not.
However, he said, "we want in earnest that the much-awaited Indian tour of Pakistan takes place."
Professor Ratnakar S Shetty, joint secretary of BCCI, told reporters: "We have examined the security arrangements, which are satisfactory and up to the mark, and saw the Stadium and found it impressive.
However, BCCI would take the final decision about playing match in Multan and we are visiting the expected venues."
He said that they are keen to visit Pakistan once everything is sorted out between the respective governments and cricket boards before the itinerary is finalised.
"We would very much like the tour go on as planned," Shetty said after inspecting the facilities at the Cricket stadium here, adding that "we are only here to evaluate certain aspects of the tour before we report back to the BCCI next week. It will then be the responsibility of the board to give the tour a green signal."
The delegation also met the Deputy Inspector General of Police office and exchanged views of mutual interest. The delegation left for Faisalabad after lunch.
The three-member team of Indian Cricket Control Board (BCCI) arrived here from Karachi on Friday morning to check security measures taken by the security agencies for the coming home series against India.
The team comprised Professor Ratnakar S Shetty, Joint Secretary of BCCI, Yashovardhan Azad, Inspector-General of Police, VIP Security Division, Ministry of Home Affairs, and Amrit Mathur, Director, Communication and Co-ordination, BCCI.
They were accompanied by a four-man Pakistan Cricket Board team including Zakir Khan, General Manager Cricket Operations, Sami-ul-Hassan, General Manager Media, Major (Retd) Javed Arshad Khan, Manager Services and Human Resources, and Asad Mustafa, Manager Logistics and Development.

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