Pakistan hopes Karachi blast won't affect England match by AFP

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Event:

England in Pakistan 2005/06

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DateLine: 15th November 2005

 

Pakistani cricket authorities said Tuesday they hoped a deadly car bomb blast that killed two people in Karachi would not affect England's plans to play a one-day match there next month.

 

The attack outside a KFC fast food restaurant was just 200 meters (yards) from the hotel where the England team are scheduled to stay for their December 15 one-day international against Pakistan.

 

"We are in constant talks with the England and Wales Cricket Boardand with our government and hope the Karachi blast does not affect the England tour," Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan told AFP.

 

"When Australia can play despite the London bombings in July and Sri Lanka can play in India despite two blasts in New Delhi earlier this month, then we can have a match in Karachi as well," said Khan.

 

England's team management refused to make any comment on the incident.

 

England, who are currently in Multan playing the first Test, earlier rejected Karachi as one of the three Test venues for their tour because of its history of violence.

 

"Blasts have been part of life these days and everyone would like life to go on and not allow terrorists to win," said Khan, a former Pakistan foreign office official.

 

In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States, foreign cricket teams like Australia and the West Indies have refused to play in Pakistan because of security fears.

 

Karachi has been rejected as a Test venue by South Africa and India since a bomb blast outside the New Zealand's team hotel in May 2002 killed 14 people including 11 French naval engineers.

 

India, who only played a one-day international in Karachi last year, have agreed to play a five-day Test in the city on their next year's trip to Pakistan.

(Article: Copyright © 2005 AFP)