Tight security for Team India in Pak

    Lahore: Strict security arrangements are in the offing for the Indian cricket team during its ensuing tour to Pakistan. More than 2200 policemen will be deployed in Lahore when Team India visits the city to play a Test from January 13-17 and then a one-day international on February 13. Around 500 policemen would guard the Pearl Continental Hotel where the Indian cricket team is scheduled to stay on both the occasions. Besides, a large number of security personnel in plain clothes will also be deployed inside the stadium, and special monitoring cameras will be installed in all important cabins and enclosures. At least 20 telescopes will also be fixed at various places near the stadium. A detailed security plan has been prepared by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) (Operations) Amer Zulfiqar Khan and was finalised at a special meeting held in Lahore yesterday. According to the plan, at least one SP will remain present at the police control room (PCR) throughout the match. Only one entry and exit point of Lawrence Garden will remain open for the general public during warm up matches, and everyone passing through will be searched by security personnel, reported the Daily Times. According to the paper, police vans will continuously patrol the area around the stadium during the one-day match.

Indo-Pak series will be exciting: Younis

     Karachi: Pakistan cricket vice-captain Younis Khan has said that the ensuing Indo-Pak Test and ODI series would be exciting to watch, because both the teams had recently performed well against two different international teams. While India comfortably beat Sri Lanka in both ODI and Test series, Pakistan won a Test series against England on its own soil. "It should be an exciting and close series because both teams are playing well. Our strength is that we are clicking as a unit with everyone pitching in when required in batting and bowling. And the series win over England has given us a lot of confidence but still India is a very good side and they know our conditions well so it's not going to be easy against them," The News quoted Younis as saying. He said that his side was placed at an advantage compared to India, as the latter had a weaker bowling attack than the hosts. "I think there is a question mark on their bowling. Whereas our strength is that our batting and bowling both are clicking and the players are supporting each other," he added.

Sourav Ganguly barred from bowling at Ranji match

     Kolkata: Former skipper Sourav Ganguly was suspended from bowling at Bengal versus Tamil Nadu Ranji trophy match at the Eden Gardens today, for repeatedly straying onto the danger zone of the pitch in his follow through. The incident occurred in the match's 58th over when Sourav was bowling from the Club House end. Sourav had already completed two spells with the red cherry and scalped three wickets. Sourav scalped the wickets of S Sriram and Badrinath, both trapped leg before wicket in his first spell of seven overs. It was during this spell that umpire B S Bhatti called Sourav twice for running into the danger area. In the post lunch session, Sourav came for his second spell and scalped the wicket of V Satish. Here also umpire Hariharan unofficially warned him for running into the danger area. It was during his third spell in the 52nd over that umpire Hariharan gave him the third warning in the fourth over of the spell for straying too far into the pitch, consequently debarring him from bowling in the innings. Match referee Kiran Mokashi said that Sourav was cautioned three times and as per the rules he was debarred for repeating it the fourth time. But Bengal's pace battery remained undaunted and bowled out Tamil Nadu for 218 shortly after that.