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Journalism of Courage
Armed with a clear directive from the Home Ministry — to ensure safety of Indian cricketers in the deadlock breaking series with Pakistan — the BCCI recce team today visited Peshawar, seen as the most contentious venue on what is becoming a contentious tour. And, even as the mood in Delhi indicated the political class had reservations about the tour, the BCCI team appeared happy with the arrangements.
In New Delhi, the home ministry didn’t appear too comfortable about the cricket tour and said it would go ahead ‘‘only if the recce team is completely convinced’’ about the security.
But things were different in Pakistan. ‘‘We are satisfied with the (security) measures being planned,’’ by Pakistan, BCCI joint secretary Ratnakar Shetty, who is part of the three-member delegation said. Others in the team are Yashovardhan Azad, Inspector General of Police in the Home Ministry (and brother of BJP MP and former cricketer Kirti Azad), and BCCI Communications Director Amrit Mathur.
The team met Syed Ifthikar Husain Shah, Governor of the North-West Frontier Province, and senior Peshawar police officials. A source in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) currently travelling with the team told The Indian Express that the IG tried to ‘‘drive home the point’’ that Peshawar was safe despite it being close proximity to Afghanistan.
A presentation emphasised the point that there had been no terrorist strike in the city in the past three years and there was no evidence of any al Qaeda training camp or any other Islamic extremist organisation here.
After the meeting the Indian delegation drove down to Arbab Niaz Stadium and, on the way, saw a rehearsal of the security drill put in place for the Indian team.
‘‘It’s now more or less confirmed that Peshawar will host the second Test,’’ the PCB source said.
A tentative itinerary drawn up by the Pakistanis has put the first Test at Lahore and the final Test in Karachi.
The Sind seaport is the next stop for Shetty and his team, who will inspect that National Stadium there tomorrow.
