Stringent security measures are in place for the third one-day cricket international between Pakistan and England [Images] in Karachi, a venue snubbed by non-Asian touring sides since 2001 because of safety concerns.

About 3,000 police and paramilitary forces will guard the National stadium and the teams' hotel. The teams will be provided with blanket security when travelling from the hotel to the ground.

A bomb blast in the vicinity of the team hotel last month killed five people.

"We have made extremely tight security arrangements for the match," Major General Javed Zia, director-general of the paramilitary forces, told reporters.

"We know this is a very important match for the city and we want to ensure nothing is left to chance."

The National stadium will be hosting its first international match against a non-Asian side since England played a Test in the city in December 2000.

Since then Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka [Images] have played in Karachi, which has been rejected as a venue by New Zealand [Images], West Indies [Images], Australia and South Africa over concerns for their players' safety.

In May 2000 a car bomb explosion in Karachi had killed 14 people including 12 French naval technicians and led to New Zealand calling off a Test match and leaving for home.

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England refused to play a Test in Karachi on the current tour but agreed to a one-dayer. The team will stay in the city, scene of militant and sectarian violence for many years, for less than 48 hours after arriving on Wednesday afternoon.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) director Abbas Zaidi told Reuters: "This match is even more important than the one we had against India last year. Because once this match is played successfully, other teams will also not hesitate to play here."