The Pakistan Cricket Board has requested the Ministry of Interior to provide fool proof security to the visiting Afghanistan team, which will enable them to show the rest of the world that Pakistan is a safe place for the International teams.
Afghanistan is the first team to visit Pakistan after the attack on the visiting Sri Lankan team on March 3, 2009, in Lahore, when terrorists attacked their tour bus.
Afghanistan team is in Pakistan to play three unofficial One Day International matches against Pakistan ‘A’.
The first match was played in Islamabad on May 25, 2011, the second match is being played at Rawalpindi on May 27 and the last will be played at Faisalabad on May 29.
According to recent TV footage the Afghanistan Cricket team was escorted by just one police van which carried only three force men. Such neglection by the security agencies could have proved fatal in case of any attempt on the team.
The security agencies have claimed that they are having a close watch on the visiting team and most of the security persons are not necessarily in uniform but they are very much vigilant.
"Because of the prevailing situation in the country where militants are targeting security agencies and police as part of their terrorist activities the law enforcement agencies don't want to be prominent in their presence around the Afghanistan team by having uniformed policemen to guard the players," the official claimed.
The Chairman of PCB, Ijaz Butt is convinced that government will honour their request seriously and the ongoing series will end with a positive note.
"We are constantly in touch with the government over the security arrangements. We are coordinating with them but the responsibility of providing the security is with the police and other security agencies," he said.
The series between Afghanistan and Pakistan ‘A’ carries importance for Pakistan cricket as it is being followed by the entire world. PCB can encourage the International sides to visit Pakistan by providing adequate security and self assurance to the visitors.
