ICC security experts spend busy day in Lahore

ISLAMABAD: International Cricket Council (ICC) security team spent a busy day at the Gaddafi Stadium ahead of the forthcoming three-match series featuring a World XI.

The two-member team arrived the other day while one member was already in Lahore to check and coordinate with the local agencies regarding the security measures being taken for the much-awaited series.

The team also exchanged notes with the local agencies. They also inspected all the entry and exit points at the Stadium and hotels where team and officials are to stay. “These officials were especially concerned about the World XI team routs to and from the ground. Team and officials route in and around the stadium was also discussed during meetings with local officials,” one of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials when contacted said.

The three-member team also delivered lectures to private security company responsible to search crowd with metal detectors. “These were briefed on the proper way to search spectators and how to keep an eye on happenings around.”

The series dubbed as Independence Cup 2017 will be played on September 12, 13 and 15. The series is an attempt on the part of the ICC to bring international cricket back to Pakistan.The PCB officials also briefed ICC security team on the arrangements being finalized to provide safe and secure environment for the visiting team that is led by South Africa’s Faf du Plessis and comprises a star-studded lineup of 14 players from seven different countries.

Meanwhile, the tickets for the highly-anticipated Pakistan vs World XI series are selling at a brisk pace. General Stand and VVIP tickets, costing Rs500 and Rs8,000 respectively, have already been sold out online. Rs2,500, Rs4,000 and Rs6,000 tickets are still available to grab.

World XI squad: Faf du Plessis (captain, South Africa), Hashim Amla (South Africa), Samuel Badree (West Indies), George Bailey (Australia), Paul Collingwood (England), Ben Cutting (Australia), Grant Elliott (New Zealand), Tamim Iqbal (Bangladesh), David Miller (South Africa), Morne Morkel (South Africa), Tim Paine (wicketkeeper) (Australia), Thisara Perera (Sri Lanka), Imran Tahir (South Africa), Darren Sammy (West Indies).

Pakistan squad: Sarfraz Ahmed (captain) (wicket-keeper), Fakhar Zaman, Ahmed Shehzad, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Umer Amin, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Hassan Ali, Amir Yamin, Mohammad Amir, Rumman Raees, Usman Shinwari, Sohail Khan.