Karachi and Peshawar likely to miss out

India are unlikely to play in Karachi and Peshawar, according to a report in The Times of India. Alluding to a report that Yashovardhan Azad, the security expert who accompanied two BCCI officials to Pakistan last week, is expected to submit to the home ministry, the newspaper says that both venues have been ruled out. They go on to say that Rameez Raja, the PCB chief, will consider such a request from the Indian authorities.

The report supposedly says, "venues in Pakistan are limited. Risky venues have been ruled out. The venues cleared by us are as safe as any in India." Azad himself declined to comment, saying that he would only make his views known after submitting the report.

The report also states that there would be no preliminary games, with the two teams heading straight into the Test series. Both boards have yet to agree on an itinerary.

Earlier, Shaharyar Khan, the PCB chairman, had revealed that the three-member Indian delegation wanted the team's stay at Karachi and Peshawar curtailed. Shaharyar told reporters, "The wrap up meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere and the Indian delegation has slight reservations over longer stays in Karachi and Peshawar ... we will consider the matter while finalising the itinerary."

He added, "The team is satisfied with law and order situation in the two cities, but it is concerned at [the players'] longer stay there."

The Indian delegation also held a meeting with four Pakistani cricketers - Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Yousuf Youhana and Azhar Mahmood - who had been members of the team that had played in India in 1999.

The players said that it was a general meeting while Shaharyar termed it a social one. Shaharyar said that since Azad was security in-charge of the Pakistan team, that toured India in 1999, he wanted to meet some members of that team.

Earlier, in a brief appearance before media during the meeting's break, Shaharyar said that efforts were being made not only to make this series possible, but also to make it an annual feature on a reciprocal basis. Special visa arrangements would be made for Indian cricket-lovers to enable them to travel and see matches in Pakistan.