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Proteas tour in doubt after bomb blasts

South African cricketer Makhaya Ntini, left, celebrates with teammates Herschelle Gibbs and AB de Villiers during their match against Pakistan in Lahore on Thursday. The Proteas tour of Pakistan has been thrown into doubt following deadly bomb blasts in Karachi. PHOTO: AFP

South African cricket officials will meet to assess player safety before deciding whether to continue their tour of Pakistan after deadly blasts in Karachi, officials said yesterday.

Two blasts ripped through a homecoming parade for former premier Benazir Bhutto late on Thursday in attacks that killed at least 130 people and injured more than 400.

South Africa are due to play four more day-night internationals in Pakistan, including the final match scheduled for Karachi at the end of this month.

Their next match is due to be played in Lahore today.

"We will consult on the situation with Cricket South Africa (CSA) officials, with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and with the security officials on tour with us and then take a decision," team spokesman Michael Owen-Smith said.

CSA only agreed to send South Africa on the tour after receiving assurances of safety from their Pakistan counterparts.

New Zealand cancelled the remainder of their tour when a bomb blast outside their hotel killed 14 people, including nine French naval staff, in May 2002.

Owen-Smith said the safety of the players was paramount.

"The safety and security of the players are paramount at all times and everyone is shocked by the news. Our thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones and with those who are injured," the spokesman said.

Asked if the blasts had endangered the rest of the tour, Smith would only say: "At this point we can't speculate on this and will only decide after consultation with the CSA and PCB."

South Africa have already played in Karachi during a two-match Test series which they won 1-0, and won their first one-dayer against the hosts in Lahore this week.

PCB director of cricket operations Zakir Khan said a meeting had been arranged to discuss the situation after the blasts.

He declined to say if the match in Karachi would be shifted to another city.

The southern port city has been considered a danger zone for international teams since the 2002 blast.

South Africa refused to play a match in Karachi on their last Pakistan tour in 2003. England refused to play a Test there in 2005.
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