Australia Tour of Pakistan: Cricket Australia received a presidential welcome in Pakistan amid tight security after travelling to the country after 24 years. Pakistan, who struggled to attract visitors after the 2009 terror attack on the Sri Lanka team bus, has beefed up 4,000 police and security personnel guarding the team hotel & the cricket stadium in Rawalpindi ahead of the opening Test on March 4. Follow PAK vs AUS LIVE updates on InsideSport.IN
Australia Tour of Pakistan: 4000 Military Man guarding Australian Cricket team, Pat Cummins & Company ‘feels safe’ in Presidential security, CHECK OUT
“The squad will be given ‘head of state-level security’,” a spokesman for Pakistan’s interior ministry told AFP.
“Such arrangements are only made for high-level foreign delegations, (and) the president and prime minister of Pakistan,” he added.
- The roads are set to be blocked on their way to the stadium located 15 km away and the team bus will be shadowed by army helicopters in an unprecedented move.
- PCB feels they have done everything possible to ensure safety and security. Snipers will be positioned on buildings surrounding the stadium.
- The interior ministry has ordered nearby shops & offices to shut on match days. Similar arrangements will be in place for matches in Karachi and Lahore.
- The teams will play three Tests, three one-day internationals and one Twenty20 match.
The visit comes as a relief for Pakistan after New Zealand departed in September just minutes before their first match was due to start, citing security fears, and England postponed tours by both their men’s and women’s teams soon after.
Pakistan are due to host eight Tests, 11 ODIs and 13 Twenty20 internationals in the next 13 months.
Pakistan tour schedule:
- March 4-8: 1st Test, Rawalpindi
- March 12-16: 2nd Test, Karachi
- March 21-25: 3rd Test, Lahore
- March 29: 1st ODI, Rawalpindi
- March 31: 2nd ODI, Rawalpindi
- April 2: 3rd ODI, Rawalpindi
- April 5: T20I, Rawalpindi
Australia Tour of Pakistan: 4000 Military Man guarding Australian Cricket team, Pat Cummins & Company ‘feels safe’ in Presidential security, CHECK OUT
Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner. On standby: Sean Abbott, Brendan Doggett, Nic Maddinson, Matthew Renshaw
Australia ODI and T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Ben McDermott, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
Australia Tour of Pakistan: 4000 Military Man guarding Australian Cricket team, Pat Cummins & Company ‘feels safe’ in Presidential security, CHECK OUT
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