India approves Pak tour itinerary, security plan

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Grappling with the postponement of the series against Australia and the Champions Trophy, the Pakistan Cricket Board received a shot in the arm after India approved the itinerary and the security plan of its tour next year. More... India approves Pak tour itinerary, security plan September 20, 2008 13:15 IST Grappling with the postponement of the series against Australia [images] and the Champions Trophy [images], the Pakistan Cricket Board received a shot in the arm after India approved the itinerary and the security plan of its tour next year. A senior PCB official confirmed that India had approved the itinerary of three Tests, five one-day internationals, one Twenty20 [images] match and a three day practice game during the tour from January 4 to February 21. "We had sent them a tentative itinerary for approval and also a security plan and they have said they are satisfied with our proposals," the official said on Saturday. He said the security plan was also comprehensive and it was unlikely the Indians will send a security delegation to inspect arrangements as they had done on their last two Test tours in 2004 and 2006. "The security plan is comparable to the one we had prepared for the Champions Trophy and India are well aware of it in the process of briefings given to the Champions Trophy teams in recent months," he said. "India was one of those countries that had backed our security plan and assurances so they are standing by their word. And even if they do send a security delegation before the tour we will welcome them," he added. The official said the itinerary will be announced early next week after it is approved by the international cricket committee of the board in the absence of a Chairman. The Indian tour will be spread over five venues -- Karachi, Lahore [images], Rawalpindi, Multan and Faisalabad. It will be a major boost for Pakistan cricket which has not played a test throughout the year and has also been stunned by the postponement of Australia's Test tour in March and than the Champions Trophy in September due to security concerns. The official said India's approval of the itinerary was a big boost for them and they would announce it soon to start preparing for the sponsors and sale of television and marketing rights. "The way we look at it a Test series against India is the mother of all series for us because the revenues generated are more than those put together against other teams," PCB chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi said.

[Sachinism]

India confirms Pakistan tour itinerary LAHORE: India has confirmed Pakistan tour itinerary. “Yes, we have received their confirmation,” Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) director cricket operations Zakir Khan told Daily Times on Friday. “The tour itinerary, venues and dates, will be released on Tuesday or Wednesday after consulting the board’s international cricket committee,” Zakir added. He said the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) had also given its nod to the venues that were proposed by the PCB. India will play one three-day match, three Tests, five one-day internationals (ODIs) and one Twenty20 international during their tour that will begin on January 4 and conclude on February 24. Zakir said they were eagerly awaiting the home series against India. Starved of international cricket, Pakistan will be playing their first Test in almost 13 months when they host India. Pakistan’s last Test was also against India in Bangalore in December 2007. “The series against India is the most important assignment for our team.” Zakir said the postponement of the ICC Champions Trophy was a big blow for Pakistan. India, led by Rahul Dravid, last visited Pakistan in 2006 to play three Tests and five ODIs. This was India’s seventh tour of Pakistan since 1954. Pakistan won the Test series 1-0, with a 341-run victory in Karachi, while the first and the second Tests played in Lahore and Faisalabad ended in draws. However, the hosts were unable to maintain the winning run in the ODIs: having won the first tie out of five, Pakistan lost the remaining four against their archrivals. Pakistan-India cricket started in 2004 after a hiatus of more than a decade. India, captained by Sourav Ganguly, came to Pakistan in the first week of March for three Tests and five ODIs. The one-dayers were held in Karachi, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Lahore while the Tests were staged in Multan, Rawalpindi and Lahore. The tour, described on both sides of the boarders as ‘historic’, was the most hyped since partition in 1947. The hype surrounding the tour was not out of place. India had not played a full tour on Pakistani soil for the last fifteen years as political agendas put the sport, regarded as a religion in the sub-continent, on the back burner. India, who had never won a Test series in Pakistan in 52 years of cricketing relations between the two countries, claimed the glory by winning the ‘Friendship Series’ – both one-day and Test series – to the disappointment of Pakistani fans. There were great expectations from Inzamamul Haq and his men but they failed to come up to the expectations of the people. India, who won the limited overs series 3-2 and Test series 2-1, thus completed their tour on a happy note. The victory also saw captain Ganguly making his own piece of history as not only did he become the first captain to lead India to a series win on Pakistan soil but also became the most successful skipper ever with 15 Test wins, erasing Mohammad Azharruddin’s record of 14 wins http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\09\20\story_20-9-2008_pg2_1

[DomainK]

Wont take two days for Pak fans to start abusing India again.

[Dravid]

whats the security plan? tieing up all the pakis?

[DomainK]

And that PCB is doing everything it can to stop Australia from touring India.

[beetle]

Why the hell is BCCI so keen on pleasing those guys who won't stop the conspiracy theories that BCCI is stalling CT? Has BCCI done any security check? Or the lives of our cricketers not so important?

[Dravid]

Why the hell is BCCI so keen on pleasing those guys who won't stop the conspiracy theories that BCCI is stalling CT? Has BCCI done any security check? Or the lives of our cricketers not so important?

all about the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[Ram]

This is like a slap in the face of CA and an open endorsement of PCB's claim that CA indulges in double standards. Especially given that CA gave their go ahead to the India tour despite the Delhi blasts less than a week ago, am pretty sure most of those guys must blushing with embarrassment now. India, long-time historical nemesis of Pakistan, keeps touring that place, while all the colonial allies keep refusing the offer. If anything, this will further strengthen the 'white vs brown' theories.

[DomainK]

This is like a slap in the face of CA and an open endorsement of PCB's claim that CA indulges in double standards. Especially given that CA gave their go ahead to the India tour despite the Delhi blasts less than a week ago, am pretty sure most of those guys must blushing with embarrassment now. India, long-time historical nemesis of Pakistan, keeps touring that place, while all the colonial allies keep refusing the offer. If anything, this will further strengthen the 'white vs brown' theories.

No, its not. Dont forget that the fundamentalists have declared a war against the western countries and the whites in particular. India may have been a traditional enemy, but may not be at the top of the list for AQ or other organizations.

[Ram]

No' date=' its not. Dont forget that the fundamentalists have declared a war against the western countries and the whites in particular. India may have been a traditional enemy, but may not be at the top of the list for AQ or other organizations.[/quote'] I didnt use the word 'Most hated' country, I just said 'historical nemesis'...

[beetle]

At least 25 killed in Islamabad blast: Report ISLAMABAD: At least 25 people were killed on Saturday in a suspected suicide car bomb attack on the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, a news channel said. The hotel was badly damaged and caught fire after the blast, which destroyed dozens of cars outside and shattered windows and damaged buildings hundreds of metres away. Initial reports said a suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden vehicle into the main gate of the hotel. The powerful blast was heard from several kilometres away. The explosion destroyed numerous vehicles parked outside the hotel and uprooted trees. It also sparked a fire in the hotel, which was evacuated. There were reports that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani was hosting an Iftar dinner at the nearby prime minister's secretariat. The event was attended by President Asif Ali Zardari and army chief Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. Ambulances rushed to the scene, where a fire also burned. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast, and its exact cause was unclear. But Pakistan has faced a wave of militant violence in recent weeks following army-led offensives against insurgents in its border regions. Mohammad Sultan, a hotel employee, said he was in the lobby when something exploded, he fell down, and everything temporarily went dark. "I don't understand what it was but it was like the world is finished," he said. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/At_least_25_killed_in_Islamabad_blast_Report/articleshow/3507428.cms If the Indian cricketers don't stand up and voice their concern...then they deserve whatever s*it BCCI throws their way.

[Dravid]

happens everyday.. yet ppl like Munda come here and try to cover it up... India should not tour at all....come on stupid bcci

[Sachinism]

BCCI are thick, they need to learn to tour other places instead of just playing Pakistan because no-one else wants to play with them

[Lord]

At least 25 killed in Islamabad blast: Report ISLAMABAD: At least 25 people were killed on Saturday in a suspected suicide car bomb attack on the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, a news channel said. The hotel was badly damaged and caught fire after the blast, which destroyed dozens of cars outside and shattered windows and damaged buildings hundreds of metres away. Initial reports said a suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden vehicle into the main gate of the hotel. The powerful blast was heard from several kilometres away. The explosion destroyed numerous vehicles parked outside the hotel and uprooted trees. It also sparked a fire in the hotel, which was evacuated. There were reports that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani was hosting an Iftar dinner at the nearby prime minister's secretariat. The event was attended by President Asif Ali Zardari and army chief Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. Ambulances rushed to the scene, where a fire also burned. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast, and its exact cause was unclear. But Pakistan has faced a wave of militant violence in recent weeks following army-led offensives against insurgents in its border regions. Mohammad Sultan, a hotel employee, said he was in the lobby when something exploded, he fell down, and everything temporarily went dark. "I don't understand what it was but it was like the world is finished," he said. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/At_least_25_killed_in_Islamabad_blast_Report/articleshow/3507428.cms If the Indian cricketers don't stand up and voice their concern...then they deserve whatever s*it BCCI throws their way.

hope bcci changes its decision after knowing this? security is much more imp than money or political relationships

[beetle]

Check BBC....the hotel is on fire.

[SachDan]

hope bcci changes its decision after knowing this? security is much more imp than money or political relationships

tour is in the month of February and atleast another 100 such blasts are bound to happen in Pakistan looking at the average with which its happening..its seems BCCI is prepared for all this..wat matters most for BCCI is filling up their coffers.

[zubinpepsi]

and the bomb exploded on the place close to the security checking... wonder what checking they have been doing ....

[zubinpepsi]

and the idiots elsewhere r blaming India and US behind this attack...

[Kohum]

ees suicide bomber ke maa kii bhais kii poocha. BCCI learn from it, and avoid the tour please.

[Desi Cartman]

yep its one of the most guarded building in pak . Some idiots think India is taking revenge for delhi blasts ... :hmmmm2: so they think Pak was behind delhi blasts ... Anyway sad news