England will be the first non-Asian team to play in Karachi since 2002 when New Zealand were here for a Test and a bomb went off outside their hotel, killing 11 French naval engineers. The New Zealanders immediately cancelled the tour and returned home.

Security officials are leaving nothing to chance for Thursday's match in Pakistan's largest city which has been hit by communal riots and bomb blasts.

England rejected the city as a Test venue, did not agree to play back-to-back limited overs internationals, and only agreed to play a one-day match after given assurance of high-level security.

"The safety measures are in order and we are confident that the match will be played in the best of atmosphere," Major General Javed Zia, director general of the paramilitary Rangers, told AFP.

A bomb blast last month just 200 meters (yards) from the five-star hotel where the England team will stay had cast doubts over the match, but assurances from the provincial Sindh government convinced England to play.

"We hope that it will be an enjoyable match," Zia, who will have the command of paramilitary troops and some 2,500 policemen, said.

The England team will travel to Karachi just 24 hours before the match starts and fly back after playing the day-night match on Thursday.

"We have practice scheduled for Wednesday, and would see the security arrangements once the team reaches Karachi," said England and Wales Cricket Board media director Alan Gibson.

Gibson said all the England cricketers had general insurance for every tour so there was no specific need for the Karachi match.

India played a one-day international here last year on their Pakistan tour but refused to play a five-day Test in the city.

Stringent security measures are in place for a sell-out crowd of 33,000, with all spectators having to prove their identities before being granted entry into the stadium.

Officials said they would open the gates three hours before the scheduled start (11:00 am Pakistan time) to allow police enough time for body searches.

The five-match one-day series is levelled after Pakistan won the second match in Lahore by seven wickets on Monday.

England won the first match by 42 runs on Saturday.

Both remaining games will be played in Rawalpindi (Saturday and Monday).

(Article: Copyright © 2005 AFP)