Thaindian News

By Omar Khalid
Karachi, Feb 24 (IANS) Pakistan is planning to seek security beef-up for its hockey team now in Delhi for the Feb 28-March 13 World Cup.

According to a source in the Pakistan team, the team management is likely to take up the matter at the security briefing in the Indian capital Thursday.

The Pakistanis, the source told IANS, have some issues regarding the security provided to them while commuting between the team hotel and the Major Dhyanchand National Stadium and it needs to be beefed up.

Pakistan team manager Asif Bajwa, who is also the secretary of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), might broach the subject at the security briefing to be held in the Indian capital at noon Thursday, the source indicated.

The briefing will be attended by Delhi Police Commissioner, International Hockey Federation (FIH) president and managers of the 12 participating teams.

Meanwhile, a newspaper report has expressed surprise over “normal” security arrangements made for the team in New Delhi.

Quoting a senior Pakistan team official, The News has reported that the Pakistanis have so far seen “nothing extraordinary” as far as the security arrangements are concerned.

Following serious security concerns raised by Pakistan and a couple other nations, India had assured foolproof security for them.

“What we’ve got here is normal security, something which we would see during any international events back home,” Shahid Ali Khan, the Pakistan coach, told The News from New Delhi.

“We get police escort when we go to the stadium for practice and there are a few security people at our hotel (Le Meridien) floor and that’s it. It’s nothing extraordinary,” added the Olympian.

Security has been the major issue in the lead up to the World Cup, following threats from extremist groups. For Pakistan, there is this additional concern because of what a team official has described as an “anti-Pakistan sentiment” in India in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai in November 2008.