South Africa continue Pakistan tour despite bombings by AFP

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Event:

South Africa in Pakistan 2007/08

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DateLine: 19th October 2007

 

South Africa said Friday they would continue their cricket tour of Pakistan after assurances of stepped up security for players in the wake of deadly bomb blasts in Karachi.

 

At least 138 people were killed Thursday when two explosions ripped through a crowd of thousands of supporters who were welcoming home former Pakistani premier Benazir Bhutto.

 

"What happened on Thursday night was tragic and after concerns raised from the South African team management we have assured them of enhanced security," Pakistan Cricket Board director of operations Zakir Khan said.

 

"The tour will go ahead as scheduled," he told a press conference here.

 

South African team manager Logan Naidoo said a meeting was called earlier Friday with Pakistani cricket and government officials to discuss team security in the wake of the bombings.

 

"Having met with PCB officials and with officials and the (provincial) home secretary we are quite satisfied that the arrangements that have been put in place are acceptable to the South African team," Naidoo said.

 

"But we will be keeping tabs on what's happening in the country for the rest of the tour and if anything happens we will meet these officials again and make a decision," said Naidoo.

 

"South African team management sympathises with the families of all the victims of last night's incident," he said.

 

The Proteas take on Pakistan in Lahore on Saturday before playing their final match in the southern port city of Karachi at the end of the month.

 

South Africa have already played in Karachi during a two-match Test series which they won 1-0, and won their first one-dayer against the hosts in Lahore this week.

 

Cricket South Africa's general operations manager Brian Basson said they had been reassured that security would remain at the "highest level".

 

"CSA has accepted these assurances and the tour will continue. CSA will, however, monitor the situation carefully," he said in a statement issued earlier in Johannesburg.

 

Karachi has been considered a danger zone for international teams since 2002. New Zealand cancelled the remainder of their tour when a bomb blast outside their hotel killed 14 people in May of that year.

(Article: Copyright © 2007 AFP)