South Africa Unhappy With Pak Venues

South Africa have asked the Pakistan Cricket Board to revise their tour programme, which includes two Tests and five One-Day Internationals, due to the security situation in Pakistan.


Pakistan Cricket Board sources said on Thursday that South Africa had expressed concerns over playing in Peshawar, the capital of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP).


"They have asked for a revision in the itinerary including a second look at the venues. They are not comfortable with Peshawar," said one PCB source.


The NWFP province, which borders Afghanistan, has seen several explosions and suicide bomb attacks on security forces in the last few days after the government stormed the Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) in Islamabad to flush out suspected militants.


More than 200 people, mostly policemen and soldiers, have been killed in bomb and suicide attacks across Pakistan since the army assault on the Mosque last month.


South Africa's tour is due to start on September 27 with the Tests scheduled for Karachi and Lahore while the One-Dayers are in Lahore, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Multan and Faisalabad.


Revised Venues


"The venues will revised in the next two weeks as we are having discussions with them (South Africa)," the source said. "But they are satisfied with the overall security arrangements we are making for their tour. They have confidence in our ability to handle things," he added.


He added that he did not expect South Africa to refuse to play the first Test in the southern port city of Karachi. In 2003, South Africa refused to play in Karachi and Peshawar for security reasons.


Pakistan is also due to host the Australia A team from September 1 and the source said the PCB was concerned another major security incident could derail the tour.


"Cricket Australia at this stage is committed to go ahead with their tour. But we fear one more incident could lead to a rethink on their part," the source said.


He added their could be a special security protocol in place for Australia and South Africa because of the situation.


But PCB Chairman Nasim Ashraf told reporters in Karachi the Australia and South Africa tours would be held on schedule.


He added that the interior ministry and Punjab police were handling the security arrangements and there was no cause for concern on the part of touring sides.