Pakistan to arrange warm-up matches for SA

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to organize the forthcoming domestic international matches against South Africa. The decision was taken on Thursday in a meeting that was chaired by PCB Chairman Lt Gen (Retd) Tauqir Zia.

The South African team arrives in Lahore on Tuesday morning for two Tests and five one-day internationals that will be played in Lahore, Faisalabad and Rawalpindi.

"We are grateful and thankful to the Punjab Cricket Association for their support and cooperation in organizing international matches against Bangladesh. But for the series against South Africa, it has been decided that the PCB will organize the show. Mr Arif Rahim has been appointed the Chairman Organizing Committee of all the three committees at Lahore, Faisalabad and Rawalpindi," PCB Chief Executive Ramiz Raja said in a statement.

With this decision, the season accreditation cards that were issued prior to the beginning of the home series stand null and void.

"The accreditation cards, except for print and electronic media and PCB officials, have been cancelled with immediate effect. Fresh accreditation/duty cards to the local match organizers and sub-committee members will be issued by Mr Arif Rahim who has made his camp office in the Gaddafi Stadium," the PCB Chief Executive said.

On Friday, the PCB Chief Executive chaired a high level meeting in which security aspects were discussed and finalized.

"There will be no compromise on security which will be foolproof and tight. I would request all the cricket lovers to kindly support and cooperate with us because Pakistan future domestic events depend heavily on South African series. The crowds, I must admit, have been wonderful for the series against Bangladesh and I am sure their response for the forthcoming series will be equally positive and supportive," Ramiz Raja said.

In the meeting, it was decided that falling items - fire arms, weapons, glass and plastic bottles, canes, fireworks, match boxes and any other item that can be used as a missile - will not be allowed inside the ground.

The tickets for the first two one-day internationals will go on sale in specific branches of United Bank Limited from Monday. The following are the names of the branches: Alfalah, Anarkali, Bank Square, Bank Square Model Town, Circular Road, Garden Town, Lehhra, Liberty Market, Ravi Road, Riwaz Garden, Shahalam Market, Shadbagh and Wapda House.

Tickets will also be available at the Gaddafi Stadium ticket counters at Gate No 2 and 14 from Tuesday between 1000 hours and 1600 hours.

The following are the prices of tickets:

Fazal Mahmood and Imran Khan Enclosures (Gate 1 and 14) Rs1,200; Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Khan Mohammad, Mahmood Hussain Enclosures (Gate 8 and 7) Rs1,000; A.H Kardar, Javed Miandad Enclosures (Gate 2 and 13) Rs800; Saeed Ahmad, Zaheer Abbas, Hanif Mohammad, Imtiaz Ahmad Enclosures (Gate 11, 12 and 13) Rs600; Nazars Enclosure [for families and ladies] (Gate 3) Rs200, Senior Citizens (Gate 3) Rs100; Majid Khan, Saeed Anwar, Rajas, Abdul Qadir, Sarfraz Nawaz Enclosures (Gate 5, 9, 6, 10) Rs75. Entry for Special Children will be free from Gate No 4. The PCB has continued the following organizing committees:

FOR LAHORE:
Members: Mr Amir Hayat Rokari (President LCCA), Lt Col Ghiasuddin, Lt Col Rana Sajjad (both Pakistan Rangers, Punjab), Mr Zakir Khan (G.M Cricket Operations -PCB), Maj (Retd) Javed Manj (Manager Services & HR - PCB), Mr Syed Ahmad Mobin Zaidi (SP Model Town) and Mr M.Shoaib Qureshi (Regional Chief Executive, UBL Lahore Region).

RAWALPINDI:
Members: Mr Hamid Ali Khan (DCO Rawalpindi), Mr S.Murawwat Ali Shah (DPO Rawalpindi), Mr Zakir Khan (G.M Cricket Operations - PCB), Maj (retd) Javed Manj (Manager Services & HR), Maj Raja Ahmad Jahanzeb, Mr Ehtisham-ul-Haq, Mr Masood Anwar (President RDCA), Mr M.Ashraf Qureshi.

FAISALABAD:
Members: Mr Tahir Hussain (DCO Faisalabad), Capt (retd) Muhammad Amin (DPO Faisalabad), Mr Zakir Khan (G.M Cricket Operations - PCB), Maj (retd) Javed Manj (Manager Services & HR - PCB), Mr Rana Anis Ahmad (Secretary FDCA).