Cricket: Pakistan looking at venue switch over security

KARACHI/MUMBAI - 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 January 5 and play tests at Lahore, Faisalabad and Karachi before one-day internationals in Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Multan and Karachi.

A senior Pakistan 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 (month of mourning) 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.

Nineteen people were killed May in an apparent suicide bomb attack on a Shi'te shrine in Islamabad.

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 are meeting on Wednesday with members of an Indian inspection team which is in Pakistan to review security arrangements.

Meanwhile, Sachin Tendulkar is preparing for the test series by practising against a bowling machine.

"I am doing that to get my body to adjust and react quickly to speed," India's premier batsman said.

Tendulkar, who returned to international cricket in October after surgery for a tennis elbow kept him out of the game for six months, feels that India and Pakistan are evenly matched.

"Our last tour of Pakistan in 2003-04 came immediately after our successful tour of Australia where we drew the test series, and so we carried the momentum with us," the 32-year-old said.

"Pakistan have gathered momentum after their test and one-day successes against England. So have we, after our recent run of successes," said Tendulkar, who became test cricket's highest century maker when he recorded his 35th hundred in the second test against Sri Lanka earlier this month.

The batsman from Mumbai said Pakistan's plan of providing fast pitches would work to the advantage of both teams.

"We have a very good seam attack. Our pacemen bowled really well the last time out," said Tendulkar, referring to India's maiden test series victory on Pakistan soil last year.

- REUTERS