Shaharyar Khan satisfied with arrangements (28 January 1999)

28 January 1999

Shaharyar Khan satisfied with arrangements

By Our Special Representative

CHENNAI, Jan 27: Pakistan cricket team manager Shaharyar Khan on Wednesday expressed complete satisfaction over the security arrangements made here for his team.

"Not only the (security) arrangements were up to the mark, they were also excellent in Gwalior," the former Pakistan foreign secretary told Dawn.

"I am extremely satisfied. The boys are happy too but they can feel some tension because of the security guards all over the place. I know that Shiv Sena have withdrawn all threats but the people are the same.

"The boys can't go out individually but they can travel in groups with proper security," Khan stated.

When this correspondent visited the team's hotel on Tuesday evening, about two dozen policemen and policewomen were seen in the lobby and outside the hotel. But contrary to reports, none of them were gun-totting commandos. In addition to this, none of the entrants into the hotel were being physically checked or passed through the scanning machine.

"They (security people) would have probably relaxed after the team members had locked themselves in their rooms. But if you had gone on the floor on which the team has been booked, you would have found that there is top-class security.

"The boys went out on Tuesday on an excursion trip and they had security people with them."

In another strange development, none of the telephone calls were being connected to the players. Even the players have not been allowed to make calls. "The team management has decided that only me, Wasim Akram, Javed Miandad and Mian Mohammad Muniro would give interviews to the press. That's why they (players) are not getting their calls through," clarified Shaharyar Khan.

Shaharyar Khan was quick to dismiss suggestions that calls were not being connected because of the fear of Indian bookies who might once again approach the Pakistan players.

"That's not true. I think the player know that their careers would be finished if they were found talking to any bookie. The message is very clear to all and sundry. Moreover, I think that none of the players would dare talk to them (bookies) because this is now a known issue and already a lot of controversy is going on.

Reverting to the security arrangements, he said so watchful were the officials that they seriously took a threat when someone called and said snakes would be let loose at Gwalior ground. "Can you imagine they hired a group of professionals who were master in getting the snakes out of the ground."

Shaharyar was not only full of praise for the security, he said his team received a warm welcome and farewell.

"When we were leaving Gwalior, there were people on both sides of the track, waving and clapping. It was a great gesture and we all felt very proud of it."

Source :: Dawn (https://dawn.com/)