The Hindu : Security beefed up at The Oval

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 20, 2003

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Security beefed up at The Oval

LONDON june 19. Security will be stepped up at The Oval for the second one-day international between England and Pakistan on Friday as officials desperately try to prevent further pitch invasions.

After Pakistan won the gripping series opener over England by two wickets with four balls to spare on Tuesday, the Old Trafford pitch was invaded by many of the sellout 18,000 crowd.

Both captains, England's Michael Vaughan and Pakistan's Rashid Latif, criticised the crowd behaviour and raised concerns over player safety.

Surrey County Cricket Club, which owns the ground, will have at least 500 stewards and security staff on duty as a deterrent. The stadium is a 18,500 sell out.

Surrey's chief executive Paul Sheldon said security staff would form a human ring minutes before the finish.

Pakistan will be strengthened by the availability of fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar who has served a two-match ban for ball-tampering.

Akhtar, the fastest bowler in the world, will replace young fast bowler Umar Gul, in the only likely change.

England may also make changes, with fast bowler Kabir Ali expected to make his one-day debut at the expense of fast bowler Rikki Clarke.

Matches involving Pakistan in England have become a major concern for cricket officials. Pitch invasions marred Pakistan's last visit in 2001. England conceded a match to Pakistan after a pitch invasion at Headingley left a steward badly injured.

The teams:

England (from): Michael Vaughan (capt.), Marcus Trescothick, Kabir Ali, James Anderson, Rikki Clarke, Andrew Flintoff, Ashley Giles, Darren Gough, Steve Harmison, Robert Key, Anthony McGrath, Vikram Solanki, James Troughton and Chris Read.

Pakistan (from): Rashid Latif (capt.), Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Nazir, Abdur Razzaq, Yasir Hameed, Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shoaib Malik, Bilal Asad, Azhar Mahmood, Mohammad Sami, Shabbir Ahmad, Umar Gul and Danish Kaneria.

Umpires: Darrell Hair (Australia) and Neil Mallender (England). Television umpire: Jeremy Lloyds.

Match referee: Gundappa Viswanath (India).

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport