ICC assesses security in Karachi

Karachi, May 19:

An International Cricket Council (ICC) delegation has completed a security assessment of the volatile Pakistani city of Karachi for this year’s Champions Trophy, an official said on Monday.

The four-member ICC team, which includes two security experts, arrived on Sunday and inspected the National Stadium and two other practice grounds for the biennial Champions Trophy to be held in Pakistan from September 11-28.

“We are here today to review security as per the normal protocol. Such tours are completely normal visits for all ICC events,” the ICC’s Campbell Jamieson said. The other members of the delegation were ICC member Bruce Ewan and two members of the ICC security consultant company from England — James Withington and Kean Steele.

The delegation had to cancel an earlier assessment mid-way through when a state of emergency was declared in Pakistan in November last year. But since general elections in February and the formation of a new government security has improved in Pakistan, allowing Australia to reschedule their tour in 2009 and 2010. The ICC delegation will also tour Lahore and Rawalpindi before submitting its report to the game’s governing body. Karachi will host five matches including one semi-final.