PCB hopes Karachi blast won’t affect England match
ODI will be played according to schedule: England Media Manager
From Our Sports Correspondent

MULTAN—Pakistani cricket authorities said they hoped a car bomb that killed three 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 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 Board and with our government and hope the Karachi blast does not affect the England tour,” Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan told newsmen on Tuesday.
“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 said they were awaiting a full report on the blast from its security advisers.
“In the meantime, the Board will continue to liaise closely with the Foreign Office, the PCB and the relevant authorities within Pakistan,” a statement added.
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.
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 trip next year to Pakistan.
Online adds: Media Manager of the England Cricket team Andrew Paul has said that despite bomb blast in Karachi on Tuesday, England will play ODI against Pakistan according to the schedule.
While talking to a private channel on Tuesday, England Media Manager said that the bomb blast in Karachi is very shocking while he expressed grief over the loss of lives in the gruesome incident.
He expressed the hope that English team will play the third ODI against host Pakistan according to the program in Karachi.
He added that Security Clearance is must for the English team whereas team management has not taken any decision regarding playing or not after the bomb blast in Karachi.