The Union Home Ministry today cleared the Indian cricket team’s tour to Pakistan, adding the rider that it would reassess the team’s security cover after the Karachi and Peshawar matches.Earlier today, BCCI Vice-President I S Bindra met Union Home Secretary V K Duggal. Home Ministry sources said that Bindra requested Duggal to speak to his Pakistani counterpart Sayed Kamal Shah. It is understood that Duggal spoke to Shah who assured him that the Indian team would face no difficulties, and that loopholes in security, if any, would be plugged without delay.An internal security team had visited Pakistan to review the security arrangements in Pakistan. It submitted a five-page report to the ministry expressing strong apprehensions about the security cover for the Indian team provided by the Pakistani authorities.The key reservation of the internal security team was that bomb-detecting equipment at the venues was not fully functional. Besides, it pointed out, contingency escape routes and crowd-control measures were inadequate.In view of the threat to the players, sources said, the internal security team had recommended that matches in Karachi be cancelled. It had also suggested that security in Peshwar be upgraded or that the match be shifted.Ministry sources said that both venues were cleared keeping in mind the Indo-Pak relations and assurance received from Pakistan. As a precaution, a senior internal security official well versed with Pakistan will accompany the team, ministry sources said. ‘‘Moreover, it was also argued that matches have been held in both the venues previously and there were no security lapses,’’ a senior ministry official said.Later this evening, team members were briefed on security for their Pak tour. ‘‘Team members have been asked to follow the security instructions at all times,’’ a senior official said. The Union Home Secretary was also present at this meeting.
