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Security will play on our minds: Smith
Abdul Waheed in Lahore |
September 30, 2003 23:26 IST
South African captain Graeme Smith said his team is determined to focus on cricket during its tour of Pakistan, although he expects security fears to play on their minds. The South Africans arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday, having initially cancelled the trip on security grounds before agreeing to a curtailed tour after Pakistan dropped Karachi and Peshawar as match venues.
"No one should question the integrity of the United Cricket Board or the South African team," the 22 year-old Smith told a news conference in Lahore. "We have come here on the back of two bomb blasts. We have come here to play cricket and to win.
"[But] I think I would be lying to you if I said that there were no worries about the security issues.
"I think two weeks of discussing security and administration is definitely going to play on our mind. It definitely plays a role. But now we are here to play and all that is behind us."
The South Africans had expressed concern at having to play at Karachi and Peshawar, and recent bomb explosions in the southern port city had underlined their fears.
Most touring cricket sides have been avoiding Pakistan since the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States amid fears of Islamic militant strikes on foreigners.
A suicide bomb outside the Karachi hotel where the New Zealand team was staying in May 2002 prompted the cancellation of the tour, and the West Indies and Australia both refused to tour Pakistan last year, using neutral venues instead.
"Starting from our first practice today, we are to focus on cricket and how to beat Pakistan," Smith said.
"We had a good discussion in Dubai before we landed here. It was a good team meeting. But obviously we have not had much time to prepare for this tour. I think we are a bit underprepared."
South Africa are touring Pakistan for the first time since 1997, when they won the Test series 1-0 under the late Hansie Cronje.
The present squad has just four survivors of that tour -- former captain Shaun Pollock, left-arm spinner Paul Adams, all-rounder Jacques Kallis and opener Gary Kirsten, who will join the team for the two Tests after the five-match one-day series.
"I think it is going to be an evenly matched and explosive series," said Smith, adding that his team was disappointed not to be playing in Karachi or Peshawar.
"But my point of view is that my men have taken a decision on our safety. If they feel it is unsafe, we are not going to take our safety for granted.
"I think it's good for Pakistan cricket [that] we are here."