Air surveillance for Karachi matches

The Indian security delegation inspects the National Stadium in Karachi © Getty Images

Pakistan has promised to provide fool-proof security to the Indian cricket team including air surveillance during the Test and one-dayer at Karachi.

The five-member delegation - led by Yashovardhan Azad, inspector general of police - which assessed the venues during a recent visit to Pakistan was apprehensive about the Indians playing a Test in Karachi but agreed later. "The delegation was against holding a Test in Karachi but on assurances from the Pakistani Government and Shahryar Khan, PCB Chairman, they agreed to play there," sources told PTI. "The delegation was told that high-class security would be provided to the Indian team and after checking with all the security apparatus with the Karachi administration, they agreed."

The delegation also expressed security concerns on account of Moharram which would require large deployment of security forces. But they were told that a three-ring security blanket would be provided, complete with barricades around the team hotel. The delegation included Ratnakar Shetty, executive secretary in charge of the BCCI, GS Walia, a member of the BCCI media committee and two government officials. Azad was sent for his "expertise" in security related issues.

Karachi is the commercial capital of the country and the visiting Indian delegation was urged to agree to a match there as "this would generate a lot of revenue for PCB".