ISLAMABAD, 25 January 2005 — President Pervez Musharraf yesterday gave Pakistan’s cricket chief “comprehensive guidelines” on the team’s upcoming tour of India and voiced concern at their recent drubbing in Australia, officials said.

General Musharraf met Pakistan Cricket Board chief Shaharyar Khan and President Musharraf gave guidelines on team’s next month’s tour to India,” it said.

Musharraf also discussed the Pakistani team’s “poor current performance and an alleged indiscipline case in Australia,” the statement said.

India has proposed the riot-hit city of Ahmedabad as a Test venue but the PCB has said it would clear the itinerary only after a report by a venue assessment committee.

“The president authorized the PCB to consult with the concerned departments and decide on the venues,” a spokesman for the board said.

Musharraf was also briefed over allegations in the Australian media that an unnamed Pakistani player raped a woman in a Melbourne hotel last month, the statement said. The PCB said yesterday it had closed the investigation after finding no evidence against any player.

Pakistan Officials Arrive in India

for Tour Checks

In New Delhi, a Pakistani delegation arrived in India yesterday 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 Feb. 25 to play three Tests and five One-Day Internationals. The officials will begin their inspection today 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 is due to host one Test but Pakistan was likely to reject Ahmedabad after around 2,000 people died in Hindu-Muslim riots there in 2002. Chennai is the likely replacement, while the other Tests are slated for Mohali and Bangalore.

“We are here with an open mind,” he said.