Sth. Africa security concerns for Pakistan tour.

[Donny]

South Africa in Pakistan 2003-04
Imran criticises South Africa's security fears
Wisden CricInfo staff - September 12, 2003

Imran Khan has criticised South Africa's demand to change the venues of two matches during their forthcoming tour of Pakistan. Imran, now a member of the federal parliament, said: "I see [the] South African demand [as] illogical after assurances by the Pakistan government that the team would be given highest security. The government is the best judge of the security in the country. Terrorism can take place anywhere in the world and most countries have unpredictable security, including South Africa."

The South Africans are due to tour Pakistan from September 22 until October 27, during which time they will play three one-day internationals and as many Tests. Their itinerary includes a limited-overs warm-up game, an ODI and a Test in Karachi, and another Test in Peshawar, matches which South Africa want rescheduling to other venues.

A three-man delegation from the South African board will travel to Pakistan on Sunday to ascertain the security situation. The Pakistan board meanwhile, has assured that top-level security will be in place throughout the tour.

Security fears have blighted cricket in Pakistan recently with teams refusing to tour the country following two suicide-bombings in Karachi in May and June last year. As a result, Pakistan were forced to play two of their home Tests against West Indies and Australia at neutral venues last year.

One of those blasts, on May 8 last year, was outside the touring New Zealanders' hotel. As a result, they packed their bags and cut the tour short by one Test. However, New Zealand are set to compensate that match by returning to Pakistan in November this year when they will play five ODIs, even though they have refused to play in Karachi.

Meanwhile, Imran blamed the ICC for this whole security palaver: "The ICC has failed to play a lead role, it's the ICC who messed up the Zimbabwe issue in the World Cup," he said, referring to England pulling out of their group match in Harare because of security concerns.

[Donny]

de Villiers warns against Pakistan tour

Telford Vice - September 12, 2003

Fanie de Villiers spent almost as much energy sightseeing as he did bowling during his playing career, but this peripatetic paceman would rather avoid Pakistan right now.

de Villiers spoke to Wisden CricInfo on the eve of the departure for Pakistan of a United Cricket Board (UCB) delegation that will assess safety in the country ahead of South Africa's tour imminent but jeopardised tour there.

The South Africans have been advised by their government to steer clear of Karachi, Peshawar and Pakistan's border with Afghanistan, and have asked the Pakistan Cricket Board to amend the itinerary accordingly. But the Pakistanis are reluctant to do so, pointing out that the United Cricket Board accepted the current itinerary months ago.

"Pakistan is always an interesting tour," said de Villiers. "I wouldn't like to see politics keeping the boys away, because the people there love their cricket." But, he said, there were other factors to consider: "We went on tour to Sri Lanka in 1992 a few months after New Zealand abandoned their tour there because of a bomb blast," he pointed out. "But, if was still playing, I wouldn't go to Pakistan at the moment. If we're sending a security delegation there's already enough doubt about safety."

The fact that one of the protagonists in the growing debate concerning the tour should feel obliged to arbitrate in the matter was part of the problem, de Villiers said. "Why is it a South African delegation that's going, why not an International Cricket Council [ICC] delegation," he asked. "Is the ICC capable of running international cricket, or not?

"The ICC should make this decision. If they think it's safe, then South Africa should go." With the dilemma that was thrust on England's players about playing a World Cup in Zimbabwe still fresh, de Villiers was adamant who the fate of the tour should not be left up to.

"It should never be the players' decision," said de Villiers. "If I was a current South African player - after a World Cup that didn't go well and a long tour of England - I wouldn't be too keen."

Delegation member Ian Smith, the UCB's commercial director, denied he had the power to decide whether the tour went ahead. "We're not looking to cancel anything - I'm confident the tour will take place," he said. "But the safety of the players is paramount, and we're going there to make sure that what we've been told is correct and that we get what we need from the Pakistanis."

South Africa are due to arrive in Pakistan on September 22.

[Donny]

Security concerns again threaten South African tour
Wisden CricInfo staff - September 12, 2003

The status of South Africa's tour to Pakistan was thrown into doubt with the news that the South African foreign ministry has advised the side against going to Karachi, Peshawar, and any areas near the Afghanistan border.

"We will not be sending a team anywhere where there is a threat to security," Bronwyn Wilkinson, the communications director for the South African board (UCB), told the BBC. "We have been told there is a minimal risk of a premeditated attack and because of this we need to ensure no stone is left unturned.

"We will still need advice from foreign affairs on whether they want us to go at all or to avoid Karachi and Peshawar, or to go under special conditions," Wilkinson explained. "We asked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to alter the itinerary, but they were reluctant to do that because of the planning that had gone into the tour."

Last week the UCB formally asked the PCB to move the matches at Karachi, which is due to host the tour-opener, a Test, and an ODI, and Peshawar, which will stage the third Test. The PCB expressed reluctance because of the planning that had already gone into the matches, and it added that it believed its security measures – which are those normally reserved for state visits – were more than adequate.

Security experts appointed by the UCB will leave for Pakistan on Sunday, and they will meet with the PCB and local police before returning to South Africa on Thursday (September 1 to deliver their report. The squad is scheduled to leave for Pakistan on the following Sunday.

Rashid Latif, Pakistan's captain who is currently sitting out a five-match suspension, urged the South Africans not to cancel any part of the trip. "There is absolutely nothing wrong in these two cities," he said. "We have just played Bangladesh in Tests in Karachi and Peshawar and everything was fine. I don't think the South Africans should expect any problems."