Pakistan concerned about Kanpur stands

Pakistan's two-member team which is currently in India to check the arrangements before their team's tour, has expressed concerns about the spectators' facilities in Kanpur, which is scheduled to host one of the one-day matches.

According to a report in The Times of India, Zakir Khan, the PCB's general manager (operations) and Sohail Khan, the special superintendent of police, were worried about the condition of certain sections of the stands at the Green Park. Asking the local authorities to spruce up the galleries, Zakir said: "It is the responsibility of the local administration to ensure that no untoward incident happens. If anything happens, people may be injured or other incidents could take place."

Earlier, the two PCB officials visited Ahmedabad, which will host one of the Tests. While they were tight-lipped about their opinion of the facilites there, Narahari Amin, the chief of the Gujarat Cricket Association, was confident that Ahmedabad would get the green signal for the game. "We briefed them about the security arrangements all along the Pakistan team's itinerary, from the airport to the hotel to the stadium and inside the venue," Amin told Indo-Asian News Service. "They are very satisfied. I am confident that the city will host the match."

Mohali and Bangalore are the venues for the two other Tests, while Visakhapatnam, Kochi, Jamshedpur and Delhi will host the one-dayers.