KARACHI: India will play a Test and a One-Day International in Rawalpindi on their tour of Pakistan early next year despite the latest bombing in adjoining Islamabad, official said yesterday.
The blast on Saturday evening devastated the five-star Marriott hotel and scores were killed, including at least four foreigners.
“India will play a Test and a One-Day International in Rawalpindi because the itinerary was approved by India before the Islamabad blast,” Pakistan Cricket Board chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi told AFP. “We hope normalcy returns by the time India tours us.” The Champions Trophy, the second biggest tournament after the World Cup, was due to be held earlier this month but was canceled due to security concerns in Pakistan. The Indian team stayed in the Marriott on their last two visits in 2004 and 2006. They also played a Test and a one-day in Rawalpindi in 2004 and a one-day in 2006.
Naghmi said Rawalpindi is one of the most important venues in Pakistan.
“We have recently renovated the stadium in Rawalpindi and hope when India tours us all will be well,” said Naghmi.
The Indian team will arrive in Karachi on Jan.4 to play three Tests, five one-day Internationals and a Twenty20 on their 47-day tour. The tour begins with a three-day side match at Hyderabad starting Jan. 6, while Karachi will host the first Test from Jan. 13 to 17. The teams will play the second Test in Rawalpindi from Jan. 21 to 25 and the third in Lahore from Jan. 29 to Feb. 2. The one-day series will start from Feb. 6 in Faisalabad. The remaining matches will be played in Lahore (Feb. 8), Rawalpindi (Feb. 11), Multan (Feb. 14) and Karachi (Feb. 17). Karachi will host the only Twenty20 match on Feb.19.
“The Indians have approved the itinerary and our security plan but will send a security delegation for an inspection tour before the series,” he said. “If their delegation makes any recommendations, we will look into them but for the time being, this itinerary is approved.” The Test tour will be India’s third in Pakistan since 2004.
Tour itinerary:
Jan. 6-8: Three-day match at Hyderabad. Jan. 13-17: First Test at Karachi; Jan. 21-25: Second Test at Rawalpindi; Jan. 29-Feb 2: Third Test at Lahore; Feb. 6: First One-Day International at Faisalabad; Feb. 8: Second One-Day International at Lahore; Feb. 11: Third One-Day International at Rawalpindi; Feb. 14: Fourth One-Day International at Multan; Feb. 17: Fifth One-Day International at Karachi; Feb. 19: Twenty20 International at Karachi.
Pakistan cricket under ministry
control for first time
Pakistan’s sports ministry has decided to take control of the country’s cricket board (PCB), which has functioned independently since 1948.
The ministry amended the board’s constitution and issued a notification on Monday under which it will monitor the PCB’s operational and financial affairs, the board said yesterday.
Sports minister Najamuddin Khan said his ministry had taken control because the board was functioning without a chairman following the resignation of Nasim Ashraf.
“Since the board chairman resigned last month, the ministry has decided to take measures to bring cricket affairs under the control of the ministry,” Khan told Reuters yesterday. “All sports federations in the country come under our control. And we also want to have a certain level of transparency in cricket affairs as people are unhappy with the performance of the team,” Khan added. The International Cricket Council (ICC), the sport’s world governing body, declined to comment on the development.
However, a board official, who did not want to be named, told Reuters: “This is the first time the ministry has got involved in cricket affairs and it could change the whole dynamics of the way cricket has been run in this country.”
