A Pakistani insurance company has stepped forward to help South Africa insure their cricket team for the tour of Pakistan starting later this week.
The United Cricket Board of South Africa has failed to secure insurance cover for the South African team's matches in Karachi and Peshawar, two Pakistani cities viewed as potential security risks.
But a Pakistan Cricket Board official said that Adamjee Insurance, the insurance agent for the Pakistan board, has offered to cover the South African team if clarification on certain issues could be provided by the UCBSA.
"Getting insurance for its team has been a problem for the UCBSA, but hopefully this can now be worked out," PCB chief executive Rameez Raja told Reuters on Monday.
The UCBSA raised concerns over playing in Karachi and Peshawar following advice from its foreign ministry and High Commission in Islamabad, and has sent a three-member delegation to Pakistan to assess security arrangements.
The delegation, which includes the director of the South African police service, held discussions on Sunday with Karachi police officials.
It also visited the National stadium in Karachi, where South Africa are scheduled to play a one-day practice game, the first one-day international on September 26 and then the third Test in October.
'NO CONCERNS'
"So far the response we have got from the South African delegation is very positive, and they have voiced no concerns," Raja said.
The South Africa tour includes three Tests and three ODIs.
Pakistan has been a no-go zone for most cricketing nations since the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.
The Pakistan government's subsequent backing of the U.S. sparked a backlash from Islamic militant groups, who targeted western interests.
Immediately after the September 11 attacks, New Zealand pulled out of a full tour and last year West Indies and Australia had their series relocated to neutral venues.
The present tour by Bangladesh is the first full tour to Pakistan by any country since the attacks.
