Karachi could still host England match despite blast by AFP

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Ground:	National Stadium, Karachi
Event:	England in Pakistan 2005/06

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DateLine: 1st December 2005

 

Pakistan and England cricket officials on Wednesday were confident next month's one-day international between the two countries in Karachi would go ahead despite a bomb blast.

 

"We are scheduled to play a one-day international in Karachi and as of now the match is on, but we will continue to review the security situation," England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman David Morgan told reporters.

 

Morgan was in Lahore to watch the ongoing third and final Test between Pakistan and England.

 

The Tests will be followed by a five-match series of one-dayers, with Karachi scheduled to host the third match on December 15.

 

Doubts over Karachi as a match-venue were raised after a bomb blast earlier this month killed two people near a US fast-food resturant, some 200 metres (660 feet) from a hotel where the England team is scheduled to stay.

 

The southern port city, plagued by ethnic and terrorists activities in the recent past, was rejected by the ECB as a venue for a five-day Test.

 

England agreed to play a one-dayer after a pre-series security assessment in June this year.

 

"We reviewed the Karachi situation and as things stand, with still 15 days left in the match, we will continue to review the situation before travelling there," said Morgan.

 

Karachi was rejected as a Test venue by South Africa and India since a bomb blast cut short New Zealand's tour in May 2002.

 

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan said a report on the blast was passed on to the ECB and United Kingdom High Commission in Islamabad.

 

"We have passed a report on the blast to the concerned parties and hope that the match will be held as per scehdule," said Khan.

(Article: Copyright © 2005 AFP)