Pak unhappy with travel arrangements

The Pakistan cricket team are concerned that their travel arrangements could hinder their preparation for next week's first Test against India.

The players were forced to take turns to board a small plane out of New Delhi on Tuesday because the Himalayan town of Dharamsala, the venue for their opening three-day warmup match, only has a small airstrip.

Team manager Salim Altaf said the arrangements could affect their build-up for the first Test starting in Mohali on March 8.

"We realise the problem is one of logistics," Altaf told reporters. "There is some concern."

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Altaf said the Pakistan management would ask the Indian cricket board to arrange to take the team to Mohali earlier than scheduled to allow some extra practice.

Having arrived in Dharamsala, the players were then frustrated by an afternoon drizzle, which ruled out any nets ahead of the game against the Cricket Board President's XI starting on Thursday.

Pakistan, who have not played a Test series in India since 1999, are scheduled to play three Tests and six one-day internationals.

Bilateral cricket between the two teams had been infrequent for the past several years owing to political tension between the two Asian neighbours.

The Indian government banned all bilateral cricket with Pakistan in April 2000 due to tension. They lifted the ban in late 2003 and the Indian team made a successful tour of Pakistan last year, their first Test series there for over 14 years.