No private parties for Pak players during Ind tour: Sarwar

The Pakistan Cricket Board has laid some strict guidelines for its players for the upcoming tour of India which includes restrictions on attending private dinner parties and not entertaining any friends at the team hotel.

"There are certain security protocols that we have taken. The players won't entertain any requests from friends or fans to attend private dinner parties. They have also been intimated that they can't entertain any guests in their hotel rooms," PCB spokesperson and GM (Media affairs) Nadeem Sarwar told PTI during an exclusive interaction.

Sarwar, along with Ehsan Sadiq (Director, Security & Vigilance, PCB), Usman Walha (Manager, International Cricket Operations) have come to recce the five venues Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi and Ahmedabad for the 12-day trip. Sarwar said that one shouldn't read too much into the security protocol.

"Not entertaining guests in hotel rooms rule was also followed during World T20 in Sri Lanka. About dinner parties, if there is a function by Government of India or Pakistan High Commission, it's our duty to attend but players won't be allowed to attend any random dinner parties.

"Also the trip is so short, we would like them to stay in the hotel and rest once the training or match is over," Sarwar added. Sarwar informed that around 50 high-profile VIP's including Parliamentarians, well-known actors, singers and industrialists will be attending the matches as PCB's guests.

"This is a new start and the PCB is really hopeful that both countries will be able to write a memorable chapter which is befitting to our cricketing history." The PCB team will also be discussing about the security of their fans.

"We will be speaking to the relevant police authorities and the BCCI whether there can be a provision for having a police beat near the designated Fans' Hotel so that our fans can go and get their security check done in each of the cities," he stated.