KARACHI, 29 December 2005 — The venues for Pakistan’s first two One-Day Internationals against India in February may be switched due to a shortage of security personnel.
India are due to tour Pakistan from Jan. 5 and play Tests at Lahore, Faisalabad and Karachi before One-Day Internationals in Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Multan and Karachi. A senior Pakistan Cricket Board official said the changes were necessary because security officials do not have enough manpower to police the second match.
“Since the 10-day period of Muharram starts in the first week of February the security officials say their manpower would be required to be posted at sensitive places in and around Islamabad and Rawalpindi on the eighth,” the official said. There is normally a high security alert in those parts of Pakistan, which have been hit by sectarian violence.
The official said the board now wanted to hold the first match in Rawalpindi and the second in Peshawar to avoid complications.
“Obviously the security arrangements for the Indian team are of state level and we can’t compromise on their security at anytime of the tour,” he said.
PCB officials were meeting yesterday with members of an Indian inspection team, which is in Pakistan to review security arrangements.
Sri Lanka Beat Fighting Pakistan by 14 Runs in Women’s Asia Cup Opener
In Karachi, Pakistan’s women cricketers fought hard against Sri Lanka but lost by a narrow 14-run margin in the opening match of the Asia Cup at the National stadium yesterday.
Chasing 179 to win, Pakistan needed 15 off the last over but lost their last wicket off the second ball.
Sri Lanka now meet India today. All teams will play each other twice with the top two teams going through to the final on Jan. 4.
Sri Lanka, who lost to India in the two-team first Asia Cup in 2003, recovered from 120-6 to post a healthy 178-9 in their allotted 50 overs with Dumila Dedunu top-scoring with 52.
Dedunu hit seven boundaries but it was the seventh wicket stand of 39 between Inoka Galagedera (25) and Praba Udawatte (22 not out) that helped Sri Lanka set a challenging target. The Pakistani bowlers also conceded 24 wides. Pakistani leg-spinner Urooj Fatima chipped in with 3-40.
Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Suwini de Alwis (4-24) and captain Shsikala Siriwardene (3-32) then had Pakistan tottering on 88-6, but a seventh wicket stand of 66 nearly won the match for the home team. Kanta Jalil (36) and Sana Mir (23) took the fight to the Sri Lankan bowlers before their stand was broken by Suwini.
Taskin Qadeer top-scored for the home team with 42. Only families were allowed to watch the match, while players of both teams followed a strict Islamic dress code of baggy trousers and long shirts unlike skirts employed by some teams at international level.
Pakistan is hosting its first major international women’s event after the government of the Islamic nation initiated national championships for women in cricket and football and allowed a mixed marathon early this year.
