Heavy security as South Africa arrive in Pakistan

South Africa arrived in Pakistan to a reception heavy on security. A bomb blast in Karachi jeopardised the tour, and as expected, heightened security will be a part of their entourage wherever they go in Pakistan.

A dozen Pakistani commandos cordoned off the arrival terminal at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore. The South Africans were then escorted to their hotel by a convoy of 20 police vehicles.

At the hotel itself, sniffer dogs were employed to check the second floor of the hotel, even as many policemen patrolled outside the building. "Around 150 commandos have been deployed to keep tight security around the team in the hotel and on the ground as they are our valued guests," Salim Zia Agha, deputy superintendent of police, told AFP.

"I am happy that the South African team has arrived here and hope they have left whatever happened in the last week behind," said M Moolla, the South African High Commissioner who met the team at the airport. "I look forward to seeing some exciting cricket from this young South African team."