Tight security for India-Pak veterans' ODI

Kozhikode, Feb 22 (UNI) The city police has made unprecedented security arrangements for the second India-Pak veterans ODI series starting here on February 25.

Police Commissioner Balram Kumar Upadhaya told reporters here this evening that nearly 1500 personnel would be deployed inside the stadium as well as the main traffic throughfares in the city as part of the arrangements.

The teams, which would be arriving on February 24 at Karippur International airport, would be escorted by the police to their hotels.

Special security cover would be provided to hotels where players from Pakistan would be accommodated in the wake of Samjautha Express blast, which claimed 68 lives and several injured at Diwana in Haryana on February 19, Mr Upadhya said.

He said as per indications from the organisations more than 15,000 specatators would be gathering at the stadium to witness the event.

Former skipper Mohammed Azharuddin and master spinner Abdul Qadir will head India and Pakistan veterans in the series.

The other ODIs are at Udaipur and Meerut on February 23 and 27 respectively.

UNI