Pak recce team satisfied with Kotla arran

NEW DELHI, September 19: The two-member Pakistan recce team on Wednesday gave a thumbs-up to security and other arrangements at the Ferozeshah Kotla, which will host the first India-Pakistan cricket Test from November 22-26.

Pakistan Cricket Board's Director of Operation Zakir Khan and security expert Sohail Khan came to the Kotla this afternoon to inspect the conditions and after 45 minutes of recce, they said they were happy.

"The ground was not really ready when Pakistan played an ODI here last time (April 17, 2005). But it's good to see that things have changed since then and hopefully we would see a great Test match here."

"The pitch was under-prepared last time and the match was hurriedly arranged. But the ground looks better now," Zakir said.

"I remember playing a match on this ground in 1987 and it looks a completely different ground now," said Zakir, who played two Tests and 17 ODIs for Pakistan.

Asked if he found any grey area, Zakir said, "It's too early to say. We are here to see the arrangements and hold discussions with security officials. If players need anything extra, we would convey it to them. It's a routine recce visit and we are happy with whatever we saw here."

Senior Delhi and District Cricket Association official SS Sareen later informed that the PCB delegation asked them not to allow spectators enter the stadium with water bottles, which were hurled along the boundary line last year.

The PCB team will leave for Gwalior on Thursday, before visiting Mohali, Guwahati, Kolkata and Bangalore, which would host matches of the series against Pakistan featuring five ODIs and three Test matches.

Zakir, however, dropped hints that he was not happy with arrangements in Kanpur, which is scheduled to host the third ODI on November 11.

"I can't comment here on the arrangements in Kanpur," he said.

The team will meet BCCI officials on September 24 before returning home to submit a report to the PCB.