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Pakistan takes Shiv Sena threats seriously

By Waheed Khan
October 11, 2006 12:43 IST
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Pakistan is taking threats from a Hindu nationalist party to disrupt its team's matches in the ICC Champions Trophy very seriously, a board official said on Wednesday.

The nationalist Shiv Sena party has said it will stage protests and disrupt Pakistan's matches in Jaipur and Mohali.

"The security of our team in the Champions Trophy is the responsibility of the home board (India) and concerned associations," Saleem Altaf, director of cricket operations, told Reuters.

"We are taking these threats very seriously and are in constant touch with our team management in India. However we are confident there should be no problems at our match venues," he said.

Pakistan plays its first match of the tournament on Oct 17 in the Rajasthan city of Jaipur against a qualifier and then take on New Zealand and South Africa on Oct 25 and 27 in the Punjab venue of Mohali.

Pakistan will only play in Mumbai -- a nationalist party stronghold -- if it qualifies for the final on Nov 5.

Shiv Sena activists had dug up the pitch at the Feroze Shah Kotla ground in New Delhi in 1999 when Pakistan toured there for a Test series.

The party has said Pakistan should not be allowed to play in India in protest against the alleged involvement of its secret service agencies in the Mumbai train bombings in July.

Altaf said Pakistan had also spoken to the International Cricket Council about the security situation for its team and was comfortable with the arrangements.

"At this moment everything appears to be under control," he added.

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Waheed Khan
Source: REUTERS
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