ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf Thursday called on Minster for Interior Rehman Malik to discuss security arrangements for the visit of Bangladesh cricket team.
It was agreed between interior minister and PCB chief that a field officer of DIG rank would be posted in the PCB along with necessary staff who will be responsible to co-ordinate with provincial governments, police officials and the PCB while federal government would be responsible to ensure security and other issues to visiting international cricket teams and providing security during their stay in Pakistan and also when Pakistani team would be on foreign tour.
Malik said that box security according to the blue book to the visiting team at outer, middle and inner cordons would be provided. Malik also constituted a committee of Secretary Interior, DG FIA and DG National Crises Management Cell, M/O Interior who will chalk out Terms of Reference (TORs) and Standing Operating Procedures (SOPs), which will govern proposed security mechanism.
Malik has also authorised five bulletproof cars to be provided to the PCB from Cabinet Division. Malik also permitted for import of two B-6/7 level bulletproof passenger buses for use of the PCB for transportation of teams and staff.
FIA is also directed to provide protocol to the visiting team at airport and immigration counters. Minister for Interior directed to analyse the unfortunate failure of security plan for the Sri Lankan team when a mishap took place, so that in the light of analysis, recommendations shall be made by the experts to prevent any such lapses in future. It was also decided that Rangers and FC will provide security cover in all the provincial capitals. It was decided that another meeting would be held in the last week of January between the PCB and Ministry of Interior in which the Ministry highlighting all the safety and security features will make a visual presentation.
"I must appreciate Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Zaka Ashraf for his personal efforts to convince international cricket teams to visit Pakistan and provide entertainment to the cricket lovers here," Malik said.
Rehman Malik told mediapersons after the meeting with Chairman PCB to discuss tour of Bangladesh team expected in April this year. Foreign cricket teams had stopped touring Pakistan since March 2009, after an attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore. If Bangladesh tours Pakistan it would become the first international side to tour the country after around three years.
Malik said he would welcome the Bangladesh (cricket) team and added that visiting team will be provided with ‘box security’ and they travel in bulletproof and bombproof buses and be cordoned by four other bulletproof, bombproof vehicles.
"With regard to security to both the teams there would be a zero tolerance, as the government desires that the foreign teams should visit Pakistan. This is fact that the situation has improved and we will take all measures to improve it further," Rehman said.
He said to ensure coordination regarding security to touring teams, a new post is being created in PCB where an officer of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) level would be appointed as Liaison Officer.
The Minister said the Officer would be in a position to plan and coordinate with the district security officials where the match would be played. Moreover, he said PCB has been allowed to arrange two bullet and bomb-proof buses as part of complete security to the teams.
He said last month China's hockey team toured Pakistan and played matches in Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad without any untoward incident. "I also visited the ground during one of the matches," he added.
Answering a question, the Minister said a security delegation from Bangladesh is also scheduled to visit Pakistan later this month to review the security situation.
"We will welcome them with foolproof (security) arrangements. I am sure, after a successful tour by the Bangladesh team, we will be able to convince more teams to tour Pakistan," Ashraf, who took over as Pakistan's top cricket official in October, said.
Ashraf said, "We want to reorganize cricket, bring back cricket to Pakistan," he said. Replying to a question, Zaka Ashraf said the security team of Bangladesh would meet Minister for Interior and also visit the venue of the matches - Lahore and Karachi.
He said a special committee is working on selection of the national cricket team coach that would be announced after forthcoming series with England. He said Pakistan's team is performing well and expressed the hope that it would show good cricket against England and win laurels for the country.